Hammond to Under-Secretary of State
December 30. 1867
Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, relating to the cession of Russian America to the United States, I am directed by Lord Stanley to transmit to you, to be laid before His Grace The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, a copy of a letter from the Queen's Advocate, reporting his opinion as to the extent to which the United States are bound by the TreatyofManuscript image of 1825 between Great Britain and Russia.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant
E. Hammond
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Holland
With reference to the concluding par: of the D. of Buckingham's despatch No 101 send to Govr Seymour a copy of the letter of the Queens Advocate for his information.
I think it better to pass this thro' you.
CC 31/12
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Mr Elliot
Proceed as Mr Cox suggests & ? to Lord Monck for his information.
HTH 31/12
TFE 1/Jan
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(Yes)
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Will not a Treaty be necessary wth U.S.? & what instructions to Gov Seymour about duties on cattle going to Troops & escorts of them?
CBA 2/1
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Govr Seymour must I think have general instructions as to the course to be taken by him with regard to duties on stock passed thru for U.S. and with regard to U.S. escorts—it will probably be better arranged as a matter of agreement between the Govr & U.S. officers in the first instance.
B&C 5/1
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Sir F. Rogers
Duties on Cattle &c passing thro' Columbia from Oregon [and] Washington to Sitka for supplying the troops of U.S.
The Governor has been told "that independently of advantage to the ColonyManuscript image common courtesy requires that the U. States Officers should receive facilities which they desire to obtain for passing cattle thro' B. Columbia."
Will it not be safer to leave the Govr to actManuscript image on this under his own arrangement, than to attempt to give him any specific instructions as to the mode of doing it.
The question of escort I suppose to be left to the Govr.
CC 9/1
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I shd be disposed to hand it to Mr Seymour —I hardlyManuscript image see why escorts shd be required—properly so called.
But I suppose the cattle drovers will be armed—& will constitute a body capable of protecting themselves & their property.
Perhaps Mr S shd be cautioned that the passage of cattle across B.C. should not be made the pretext of sending backwards & forwards bodies of armed men—a habit wh wd prove inconvenient hereafter either to permit or to prohibit.
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It's the beginning of the end but can't be helped. I leave for Seymour's discretion wth caution.
CBA 11/1
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I concur in leaving to the Govr with the [remainder cut off microfilm].
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Travers Twiss, Queen's Advocate, to Lord Stanley, 26 December 1867, stating that only the geographical limits of the treaty of 1825 between Britain and Russia devolve upon the United States.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, Confidential, 17 January 1868 informing Seymour of the extent to which the US is bound by the treaty of 1825 between Russia and Britain and cautioning Seymour against allowing the US to send armed forces while “passing their Cattle through British Columbia.”
Minutes by CO staff
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Should not words at end be more distinct as to Govrs discretion?