No. 177.
Mr. Welsh
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, June 15, 1878.
(Received June 26.)
No. 93.]
Sir: I have the honor herewith to inclose copies of
two notes which I have received from Lord Salisbury with reference to the
subject of the Liberian Boundary Commission, from which it appears that, it
having been ascertained that the Liberian commissioners had not been named,
Her Majesty’s Government consider that it will be impossible for the
commission to meet before the end of the rainy season, and that they have
given instructions that Commander Bradford should be informed to this
effect.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 93.]
Lord Salisbury to
Mr. Welsh.
Foreign
Office, June 6,
1878.
Sir: With reference to the conversation which
you had with Mr. Lister on the 21st ultimo, in which you informed him
that Commander Bradford, of the United States ship of war Marion, who
had been nominated by the United States Government to act as arbitrator
on the mixed British and Liberian boundary commission, had reported his
arrival at Gibraltar, where he was awaiting instructions as to the time
and place of the meeting of the commission, I have the honor to inform
you that in consequence of the failure hitherto of the Liberian
Government to announce the appointment of their commissioners, Her
Majesty’s Government are unable to say whether the commission will be
enabled to meet this season, and that if this announcement is not very
shortly made they believe that it will not be possible for the
commission to meet before the autumn of this season.
The governor of Gibraltar has made a communication to this effect to
Commander Bradford.
I beg leave to add that if, as appears probable, the commission, in
consequence of the delay referred to, should not be able to meet this
season, the United States Government and Commander Bradford will at once
be informed of the fact, as well as of the time when it is proposed that
it should meet after the close of the rainy season.
The place of meeting has not yet been finally decided on, but it will
probably be Sierra Leone.
I have, &c.,
[Page 266]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 93.]
Lord Salisbury to
Mr. Welsh.
Foreign
Office, June 8,
1878.
Sir: With reference to my note of the 6th
instant on the subject of the Liberian boundary commission, I have the
honor to inform you that a telegram has been received from the governor
of Sierra Leone stating that he had been informed by the President of
Liberia that the Liberian commissioners had not yet been named.
Under these circumstances Her Majesty’s Government consider that it will
now be impossible for the commission to meet before the end of the
approaching rainy season, and I have accordingly requested Her Majesty’s
secretary of state for the colonies to instruct the governor of
Gibraltar to inform Commander Bradford, of the United States sloop
Marion, to that effect, and that due notice will be given to him when a
time has been definitely fixed for the meeting of the commission.
I further beg leave to acquaint you that the governor of Sierra Leone has
informed the President of Liberia of the appointment of Commander
Bradford, of the United States sloop Marion, as arbitrator on the
commission, and that it is considered desirable that the commissioners
should meet at Sierra Leone in the first instance.
I have, &c.,
