No. 50.
Mr. West to
Earl Granville.
Washington, April 6, 1882.
(Received April 24.)
My Lord: At the request of the Secretary of State,
I called upon him the day before yesterday, when he put into my bauds a
communication which he said he was about to make to the House of
Representatives, and which, before doing so, he wished me to read, in order
that it should not appear in print without my knowledge, as it related to
what had passed between us respecting the Irish-American suspects. I thanked
Mr. Frelinghuysen for his courtesy, and said that this communication would
at all events evince the amicable spirit which animated the two
governments.
I have the honor to inclose to your lordship printed copies of this document
as it was presented to the House of Representatives.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 50.—Newspaper
extract.]
To the President:
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the House
of Representatives of the 31st January last, requesting the President
“to obtain a list of all American citizens, naturalized or native-born,
under arrest or imprisonment by authority of the British Government,
with a statement of the cause or causes of such arrest and imprisonment,
and especially such of said citizens as may have been thus arrested and
imprisoned under that suspension of the habeas
corpus in Ireland, and, if not incompatible with the public
interest, that he communicate such information, when received, to this
House, together with all correspondence now On file in the Department of
State relating to any existing arrest and imprisonment of citizens as
aforesaid,” has the honor to inform the President, in part response to
this request of the House of Representatives, that for some time past
active negotiations have been carried on between the two governments.
These negotiations have been conducted in a spirit of entire friendship,
and it affords the Secretary of State pleasure to acquaint the President
that on the 2d instant information was received by the Department of
State that all the American citizens held as prisoners in Ireland had
been released except three, and that since that date the further
information has reached him that O’Connor, Hart, Walsh, Dalton, and
White are not now in prison The negotiations are still being conducted
with a view to the release of the remaining prisoners, and the hope is
entertained that a result will be reached satisfactory and honorable
alike to both governments.
Respectfully submitted.
FRED’K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
Department of
State,
Washington, April 4,
1882.
