§ LORD JOHN MANNERSasked the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Home Secretary whether he could inform the House as to any communications which had passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States with reference to the recent discovery at Liverpool of infernal machines which have been sent to this country from America?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, Her Majesty's Government, as I stated some days ago, thought it their duty to make representations to the Minister of the United States in London, on the subject of the machines which were discovered at Liverpool. The Government have received from the Government of the United States a communication, couched in the friendly and satisfactory spirit which I ventured confidently to anticipate. With the leave of the House I will read the answer from the Government of the United States. It is from Mr. Lowell, the Minister of the United States—
Legation of the United States, London,August 1, 1881.My Lord,—Referring to my conversation with Lord Tenterden on Friday, the 29th ult., in relation to the discovery of explosive machines at Liverpool shipped from the United States for criminal purposes, I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that I sent to Mr. Blaine on the 30th ult. by cable a memorandum of this conversation, and that I have received from him this morning a despatch by telegraph in which he instructs me to inform Tenterden that the National, State, and municipal authorities of the United States are all engaged in the work of discovering the wicked authors of the dynamite plot. Mr. Blaine adds that it was a stealthy, secret crime, and it is not believed that any considerable number of accomplices were engaged in it. He further states that no pains or expense will be spared in the detection and prosecution of the guilty parties.I have, &c,J. R. LOWELL.The Earl Granville.