UNITED STATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6383, 31 October 1888, Page 4

UNITED STATES.

AN ELECTION EXCITEMENT. [Special to Pbess Association.] WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. President Cleveland has requested the British Government to recall Sir L. Sackville West, their Minister at Washington, because he privately wrote to an American elector, favouring, in guarded terms, his (President Cleveland's) re-election. • Oct. 28. President Cleveland's action is generally regarded as yielding to the outcry of the Eepublican Press, that England is trying to influence the Presidential election. The British Minister declares he was entrapped. Mr Blame condemns Sir L. West's letter, and Secretary Bayard regrets that the Minister should have been so incautious as to pen it. Oct. 27. President Cleveland has instructed MrPhelps, United States Minister in London, to inform Lord Salisbury that the removal of the present British Minister at Washington will tend to promote the entente cordials between Great Britain and America. LONDON, Oct. 27. It is thought that Sir L. Sackville West, British Minister at Washington, will avail himself of his accession to the Peerage as an excuse for a prolonged holiday, and that his return to Washington is unlikely. Should this supposition be correct, the difficulty between President Cleveland and himself would be thus ended, and a successor at Washington would be appointed. Ooi. 29. The English Press almost unanimously condemn the action of President Cleveland in connection with Sir Sackville West. The latter, who is at present on a visit to England, accompanied by Mr Phelps, American Minister, proceeded to-day to Hatfield House, Herts, the residence of the Premier, to interview Lord Salisbury.