Mr. Fish to General Schenck
Sir: Shortly before Sir Edward Thornton sailed for Europe, he suggested the name of Count Corti, the Italian minister to this Government, as the commissioner under Article XII of the treaty of May 8, 1871, to be named by the President of the United States and Her Britannic Majesty conjointly. He stated that this suggestion was made on his own responsibility, without the instruction of His government. The President accepted the suggestion, and agreed to name Count Corti, on his part, if the British government proposed it. Sir Edward subsequently informed me that his government approved the nomination, and he went to Newport, where the Count is passing the summer, and on the eve of his sailing for England telegraphed to me that the Count consented to serve on the commission if his government would approve. I have had no other official communication on the subject, and as the time is advancing within which the joint appointment must be made, I have sent to Mr. Marsh the telegram of which a copy is inclosed. It was submitted to Mr. Pakenham before it was dispatched, and a copy of it was given to him.
Inclosed herewith is a copy of a telegram sent to you on the 9th instant.* The President has appointed Mr. Charles Francis Adams the arbitrator to be named by him under Article I of the treaty on the Tribunal of Arbitration to meet in Geneva, and you were aware before you left the United States that he had appointed Mr. J. C. Bancroft Davis, the Assistant Secretary of State, the agent on the part of the United States to represent this Government generally in all matters connected with the arbitration. These appointments have not yet been officially made public; that of Mr. Davis has been unofficially authorized to be announced. It is probable that both will be authoritatively made public very shortly.
If the British government will give you the name of the arbitrator appointed in their behalf, you will at once announce to them the appointment of Mr. Adams.
If they are not prepared, or not willing to name the arbitrator on their part, you will exercise your own judgment in communicating the appointment of the American arbitrator.
The appointment of Mr. Davis you may communicate at once. The President has also named Mr. Robert S. Hale, of New York, as the agent of this Government to attend the commissioners to be appointed under the Article XII of the treaty. This appointment you will communicate to Her Majesty’s government. * * * * *
I am, &c.,
- For inclosure see page 482.↩