Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1876

No. 22.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Partridge.

Department of State,
Washington, May 26, 1876.

No. 175.]

Sir: Your dispatch, No. 322, of the 20th ultimo, has been received. It represents that the British government, pursuant to the opinion of the law-officers of the Crown, has instructed its minister to inform the government of Brazil that it will not acquiesce in the application of the Brazilian law, to which you refer, to acts done by British subjects outside of the jurisdiction of Brazil. This decision may be regarded as obviously sound, and is entirely concurred in by this Government.

If, therefore, there should be occasion, you will inform the minister of foreign affairs that we cannot consent to the prosecution or punishment of a citizen of the United States pursuant to the objectionable statute adverted to.

I am, &c.,

HAMILTON FISH.