Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6498, 24 December 1881, Page 4

Wa do not understand the conreo which Menu to have been taken by the Interchange of oiriUUes between New Zea* land and the United Statoe consequent on the death of ’President ' ; The Hoom of Repreaentativc* sent 111

message of sympathy to the American people by telegraph on Sept. 111, the day on which the news of the President's death reached this country. The reply is received from America just three months afterwords, viz,, on D«. 21, by mail. This delay is incomprehensible, and is not the only thing in the matter which is so. The message in reply has come through the British Government. What are wo to understand from these things ? Is it that the gratitude of the United State* Government for the sympathy of a faroff people is not equal to the cost of a cable message ? Or is It that the United States Government is of too exalted a character to have direct dealings with any Government of less standing than that of a sovereign power of the first class ? Or are we to conclude that the reply was sent to Lord Granville because nobody in the American Government knew where New Zealand is ? Aw it wow known to be somewhere tn tbo British Empire, Lord Granville, who is the Foreign, not the Colonial Secretary, would bo sure to hand the American reply to the proper person, who would without doubt forward It to the proper quarter. It is possible that our own message did not go direct; and. though It was generally understood at the time that the message would he cabled, the mail steamer may have carried it. We would like to believe that this wu the case, because wo do not like to think that the United States Government would behave with intentional discourtesy to any country, however small. But we tar that the explanation of the matter is not to be found in any bungling or panciillio at this end. If, as we are afraid, that is the case, it seems to ns that the United Slates Government has shown that it does nst feel very deeply touched by the sympathy of the Hew Zealand House of Representatives. The message sent bock in reply Is everything that could be desired in expression; but why was it delayed so long and why did it sot come direct?