I think it hardly necessary to repeat the reasons I have heretofore given why it is desirable that the new administration of this government, which is to come, in here on the 4th of March, and the reconstructed administration of Great Britain, which is supposed to be near at hand, shall find themselves relieved of all the international questions which, although they are not intrinsically difficult, have nevertheless so long and so painfully embarrassed both nations. I am, sir, your obedient servant, REVERDY JOHNSON, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 20.] Mr. Johnson to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I had, by appointment, an interview to-day with Lord Stanley, and talked over the matters in dispute between the two governments. I am glad to say that the result was entirely satisfactory. Your instructions not authorizing me to negotiate upon the San Juan and Alabama claims until the naturalization question was arranged, I have not done so; but I am persuaded that when I can do so there will be no serious, if any, difficulty. Nor is there any in relation to the other subject. In regard to that, I expect in a week or two to agree upon a protocol of a treaty which will substantially adjust the matter as far as this government can do so previous to such legislation as they deem not only advis able but necessary. As soon as the protocol is agreed to, I hope you will allow me to negotiate as to the other questions, as I suppose the President and yourself desire that these should be satisfactorily adjusted before any legislation by Parliament can be had, there being no reason to hope for that until the spring. I will, of course, forward you a copy of the protocol at the earliest moment, and delay consideration of the other questions until I hear from you. I have the honor to remain, with high regard, your obedient servant, REVERDY JOHNSON. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Johnson to Mr. Seward. No. 28.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Since my dispatch No. 20, of the 25th of September, I have had one or two interviews with Lord Stanley relative to the naturalization question, and I am glad to tell you that we have nearly agreed on the terms of a protocol. I am to have another interview with his lordship on Friday next, the 9th instant, when I have every reason to believe the matter will be concluded. As soon as this is done I will advise you of it by telegram, and forward a copy of the protocol by the first mail. I continue to receive the strongest evidence from other members of the government, as well as Lord Stanley, and from the English public gener ally, of the friendly feeling entertained by them all for the government and citizens of the United States; and I therefore entertain no doubt that all matters now in controversy will soon be satisfactorily arranged. I have the honor to be, sir, with high regard, your obedient servant, REVERDY JOHNSON. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Seward to Mr. Johnson. [Telegram per cable.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 7, 1868. Your 20 received. See and adhere to my 20. Send protocol by cable, in cipher. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 29.1 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches numbers 19, 20, and 21, respectively. I was aware of the doctrine held by the judiciary of England upon the subject of native allegiance, as declared by the judge in the case of Halpine, to which you call my attention in your dispatch No. 19. I agree with you in thinking that it has no foundation in reason, but is in violation of man's clearest right-the search for happiness wherever he may think he can find it. That a government should possess the power to throw an insuperable obstacle to the enjoyment of this right is a principle which no just government can admit, and I am glad to be able to assure you that it has no support in England, except what it receives from their courts, who think themselves bound by the decisions of their predecessors made centuries ago, although the judges themselves, I have reason to believe, think of it as every intelligent man at present does. The protocol agreed upon to-day by Lord Stanley and myself, relative to the naturalization question, which you will receive in this bag, will show you that this government does not hold, but, on the contrary, expressly renounces, the principle. Referring you to my dispatch accompanying the protocol, I remain, with high regard, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. REVERDY JOHNSON. Mr. Johnson to Mr. Seward. No. 30.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose you a protocol on the naturalization question, signed by Lord Stanley and myself on this day. I hope you will concur with me in thinking that it maintains the American doctrine on the subject in very clear and explicit terms. The first article admits the right of expatriation, and of obtaining absolute citizenship in another country, if the laws of such country admit of it. A native subject of Great Britain, therefore, who has already become, or may hereafter become, under our laws, a naturalized citizen of the United States, ceases to hold any allegiance whatever to Great Britain; and as you will perceive by the two terms which, at my instance, were inserted in that article, should he be again within the dominions of Great Britain, that government will be bound to consider him as "in all respects and for all purposes" a citizen of the United States. This, of course, in future trials in the British courts would entitle him to a jury de mediatate linguæ, as long as a foreign citizen by the English law is secured that privilege. The second article is designed to give, and does give, the right to a naturalized citizen to renounce his acquired and resume his native nationality. The manner of doing and declaring this is to be the subject of future arrangement. This article embraces only the naturalized citizens who think proper to remain within the country in which they were naturalized. The third article covers the cases of those who remove from the country of their naturalization to that of their nativity. In such cases the latter government may, upon such terms as they shall think proper, readmit them to their native citizenship upon their application. The fourth article is rendered necessary by the laws of England, as construed by the law officers of the Crown, and I have no doubt that that construction is a correct one. I have not made the article recipro cal, because no such difficulty exists with us. This impediment, however, to a full treaty on the subject, to go into operation at once, I have every assurance will at the earliest moment be removed. This assurance I not only have from members of the present government, including Lord Stanley, but from what is known to be the desire of those who may possibly succeed them by the result of the coming elections. Being now convinced that the above matter will be soon satisfactorily adjusted, I shall, under the authority given me by your dispatch No. 20, of the 23d of September, proceed to negotiate on the San Juan and Claims questions, subject, of course, to the restrictions that they are not to be finally settled until the question of naturalization is ultimately concluded. For that purpose I am to have an interview with Lord Stanley on Friday, the 16th instant, when we are to consider the San Juan affair. I continue to keep in view the cases of Warren and Costello, and have reason to believe that they and several of the other prisoners will be released at a comparatively early day. Trusting that what I have so far done will be approved by the President and yourself, I remain, with high regard, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Protocol showing the principles agreed upon by the United States and British governments on the question of naturalization. The undersigned, Reverdy Johnson, esquire, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, and Edward Henry, Lord Stanley, of Bickerstaffe, her Britannic Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, being respectively authorized and empowered to place on record the desire of the President of the United States of America, and of her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to regulate the citizenship of the citizens of the United States of America who have emigrated or who may emigrate from the United States of America to the British dominions, and of British subjects who have emigrated or who may emigrate from the British dominions to the United States of America, have agreed upon the following protocol: I. Such citizens as aforesaid of the United States who have become or shall become and are naturalized according to law within the British dominions as British subjects, shall, subject to the provisions of articles II and IV, be held by the United States to be, in all respects and for all purposes, British subjects, and shall be treated as such by the United States. Reciprocally, such British subjects as aforesaid who have become or shall become and are naturalized according to law within the United States of America as citizens thereof, shall, subject to the provisions of articles II and IV, be held by Great Britain to be, in all respects and for all purposes, American citizens, and shall be treated as such by Great Britain. II. Such United States citizens as aforesaid who have become and are naturalized within the British dominions as British subjects, and such British subjects as aforesaid who have become and are naturalized as citizens within the United States, shall be at liberty to renounce their naturalization, and to resume their respective nationalities, provided that such renunciation be publicly declared within two years after this protocol shall have been carried into effect, as provided by article IV. The manner in which this renunciation may be made and publicly declared shall be hereafter agreed upon by the respective governments. III. If such American citizen as aforesaid, naturalized within the British dominions, should renew his residence in the United States, the United States government may, on his own application, and on such conditions as that government may think fit to impose, readmit him to the character and privileges of an American citizen, and Great Britain shall not, in that case, claim him as a British subject on account of his former natural ization. In the same manner, if such British subject as aforesaid, naturalized in the United States, should renew his residence within the British dominions, the British government may, on his own application, and on such conditions as that government may think fit to impose, readmit him to the character and privileges of a British subject, and the United States shall not, in that case, claim him as a citizen of the United States on account of his former naturalization. IV. As it will not be practicable for Great Britain to carry into operation the principles laid down in this protocol until provision has been made by the imperial Parliament for such a revision of the existing laws as the adoption of those principles involves, it is agreed that this protocol shall not take effect until such legislation can be accomplished. The British government will introduce measures into Parliament for this purpose as speedily as may be possible, having regard to the variety of public and private interests which may be affected by a change in the laws of naturalization and allegiance now under the consideration of the royal commission, whose report is expected shortly to be made. The same provision not being necessary by the Constitution and laws of the United States, this article is not made reciprocal. Done at London, the 9th of October, 1868. REVERDY JOHNSON. No. 32.] Mr. Johnson to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: With reference to Mr. Moran's various dispatches reporting the delivery to corporations and individuals in the British dominions of copies of "The Tributes of the Nations to Abraham Lincoln," I have the honor to inclose herewith a number of further acknowledgments of this work, received at this legation since the 17th of August, together with a list of the same. A few of the letters sent out with the books remain unanswered, but replies to these may soon be expected, and the business of delivery and acknowledgment be brought to a close. I have the honor to remain, with high regard, your obedient servant, REVERDY JOHNSON. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. List of letters of acknowledgment of receipt of "Tributes of Nations to Abraham Lincoln." Ladies' Emancipation Society, Edinburgh, (2 notes.) Improvement commissioners, Rhyl, (2 notes.) Union and Emancipation Society, Huddersfield. Municipal council, Hertford. Wesleyan ministers and stewards, Belfast, (2 notes.) Municipal council, Cupar. Municipal authorities, Patrick, (2 notes.) Municipal council, Sunderland, (2 notes.) Municipal council, Waterford.' Workingmen's Association, Birkenhead. Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland, Dublin. Municipal council, Dublin. Ministers and stewards, Enniskillen district. Municipal council, Leicester, (2 notes.) Municipal council, Tewkesbury. American Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool. Workingmen's Club and Institute, Bristol. Union and Emancipation Society, Manchester. Municipal authorities, Hinton. Local Board of Health, Barnsley. A. A. Ralli, esq., London. Municipal conneil, Bradford. Municipal authorities, Montrose, Municipal council, Crail. Teachers of the ragged schools, Bristol. British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society, London. |