A LAMENTABLE REPLY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 22 January 1907, Page 3

A LAMENTABLE REPLY

CHILDISH ACTION 01' BRITISH GOVERNOR. DOUBTS ADAURAL DAY IKS' YERACITY. GRATUITOUS INSULT TO UNITED STATES. Received 21st, 11.9 p.m. Kingston, January 21. Sir A. J. Swettduham replied .o Admiral Davics on Friday, thanking him for all assistance and offers, but said he felt it his duty to ask for th; re embarkation of the working party and all parties which kindness had prompted him to land. He adds: ''if in consideration of the 'American Vice-Consul's attention >o his family at his country house, the Consulate should need guarding—although he (Swettenham) was present and it was unguarded au hour ago—l have no objection to your detailing a force for the sole purpose of guarding but without firearm or anything more offensive thau clubs or staves. "I find your working party today ■was helping; Oresswcfl to dear his etoi'e. Cresswell was delighted wi'-ii the work done free of cost, and if you remain long enough I am sure all private owners, will he glad of the serTicea of the Navy to save them expense. "It is no longer a question of humanity, as all tho3e dead died days ago. She: work of burial is merely one ol convenience..

"X will be glad to accept delivery of the safe the alleged thieves stole, and of which the American Vice-Consul ha'i no knowledge.. Tne store wa3l*av the gentry post, and the officer in charge professes iguorance oi the incident. • ••1 believe the police surveillance is adequate.. Not l«Bg ago thieves pillaged the house of a New York millionaire during his absence at his summer residence, but this would not have justified the British landing an armed party to assist the New York police."