Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine.
British
Legation,
Washington, March 8, 1892.
(Received March 10.)
Sir: With reference to my note of the 28th of
January last, I have the honor to inform you that I forwarded a copy of
your note of the 22d of that month transmitting the decision of the
Treasury Department in regard to the case of Charles Gibbons, an alleged
assisted immigrant, to the Marquis of Salisbury, and I have now received
a dispatch in reply from his lordship forwarding a communication from
the secretary of state for war on the subject, copy of which I have the
honor to inclose herewith.
In bringing this question of commuted pensioner immigrants once more to
your notice, I venture to call your attention to the argument contained
in that letter, and, in compliance with instructions which I have
received from the Marquis of Salisbury, I have the honor to inquire
whether you would be good enough to move the Secretary of the Treasury
to reconsider his decision in regard to sound and healthy commuted
pensioners desiring to emigrate from Great Britain to this country.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The secretary of state for
war to the under secretary of
state, foreign office.
War
Office,
London, February 15,
1892.
Sir: In reply to Mr. Lowther’s letter of
the 6th instant forwarding a dispatch from Her Majesty’s minister at
Washington on the subject of the refusal of the Government of the
United States to receive as immigrants army pensioners who have
commuted their pensions, I am directed by the secretary of state for
war to express his hope that Lord Salisbury will be willing to urge
that the decision of the United States Government may be
reconsidered. I am to point out that there is no desire on the part
of this department to allow men unfit to earn their own living to
immigrate to foreign countries, that the commissioners of Chelsea
Hospital require (1) that the man be found medically sound; (2) that
he has letters from friends promising employment or a home; (3) that
he must emigrate with his family. The commissioners are so far from
encouraging these commutations that nine out of ten are refused
because they do not fulfill the conditions above mentioned. As
regards the case of O’Brien, who was refused permission to land, I
am to state that it is evidently fraudulent, and that it will be
carefully investigated.
In conclusion, I am to observe that if men like Gibbons, with a
healthy family and entitled to receive £300 from Her Majesty’s
consul-general at New York, are not to be allowed in future to land
in the United States, it is difficult to conceive what persons from
these islands will be acceptable as immigrants.
I have, etc.,
