Lord Lyons, who returned last night, called on me to-day
with Admiral Milne and staff, accompanied by Secretary Seward. Admiral Milne
has a pleasant face, more Scotch than English. He is tall, — six feet two, — strongly
built, not fleshy yet not spare, — a good physique in every respect. While we
were conversing, Mr. Seward interrupted to say he had referred the
Spanish claim of maritime jurisdiction to the King of Belgium. I asked whether
the King of Belgium was an authority on international law and impowered to
decide questions of this character so as to make them binding on others. His
decision might be conclusive against Spain if he should adhere to the marine
league, but were he to decide otherwise, his decision would conclude no
government but the United States. I did not believe Great Britain would yield
to the dictum of the King of Belgium against tradition and usage and the
established law of nations, if the United States did. She would therefore
approach Spanish territory to within three miles, while we, by this submission,
would be excluded for six miles by the decree if against us.
Seward was a little nonplused. Both Lord Lyons and Admiral
Milne exchanged significant looks at this singular reference, which jeopardized
our rights and secured us nothing.
Dining at Lord Lyons's this evening, Admiral Milne, who sat
next me, stated that he is the first British admiral who has visited New York
since the government was established, certainly the first in forty years. He
said that it had been the policy of his government to avoid such visitations,
chiefly from apprehensions in regard to their crews, their language and general
appearance being the same as ours. There were doubtless other reasons which
neither of us cared to introduce. He was exceedingly attentive and pleasant.
Said he had tried to preserve harmony and good feeling, and to prevent, as far
as possible, irritation and vexatious questions between us. Complimented the
energy we had displayed, the forbearance exercised, the comparatively few
vexatious and conflicting questions which had arisen under the extraordinary
condition of affairs, the management of the extensive blockade, and the general
administration of our naval matters, which he had admired and in his way
sustained without making himself a party in our conflict.
There were some twenty or twenty-five guests, including the
Prussian, Spanish, and Brazilian Ministers, the Secretary of State, the
Attorney-General, and myself of the Cabinet. The whole was well-timed and
judiciously got up for the occasion, and with a purpose. It is, I think, the
harbinger of a better state of things, or rather of a change of policy by the
English government.
Chase has gone to Ohio preparatory to the election, which
takes place next Tuesday. Great interest is felt throughout the country in the
result. Chase is understood to have special interest in this election.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 467-9
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