Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward
The undersigned has been instructed by her Majesty’s government to state that the principal maritime powers have for a long time interested themselves in endeavoring to establish a system of international marine signals that should be universal in its application.
In the year 1864 the governments of France and Great Britain resolved, for the general interests of shipping and commerce, to determine by investigation, which, if any, of the signal codes then existing possessed the elements of a system most favorable for general adoption for intercommunication by vessels of all nations irrespective of country or language, and which in fact most nearly fulfilled the conditions requisite to insure the advantages and claim the title of an “universal language of signals.”
An international commission was accordingly appointed by the governments of France and Great Britain for the purpose of examining and reporting upon the merits of the commercial code of signals for the use of all nations which had been selected as the code best adapted for general use.
This code has been revised by that commission, and after considerable modification and improvement, it has now assumed a cosmopolitan character which no other code of marine signals has to this time so completely presented.
The revised code has been simultaneously published in Paris and London; its adoption for use on board of ships of war of France and Great Britain for intercommunication with each other, and with merchant vessels, has been ordered by the respective governments, and its use on board merchant vessels has been strongly recommended by the associations connected with shipping, and every means have been taken by the governments of France and Great Britain to pro mote and extend its adoption at home, and in their respective colonies and dependencies, both on board merchant ships and signal stations.
The undersigned has now the honor to enclose a copy of the English signal-book, and he begs leave at the same time to state that, with the view of insuring to all maritime States a participation in the benefits of a uniform system, and at the same time of preserving the essentially international character of the signal code, the governments of France and of Great Britain have mutually [Page 245] agreed between themselves to act upon, and to request other governments who may adopt the commercial code to adhere to the following regulations:
1. The government of each country adopting the code will undertake to exercise a control over its publication, so as to insure that the signals and their significations are exactly conformable to those of the French and English editions; and no edition will be authorized by any government unless recognized by the proper department of such government as being correct and in conformity with the French and English types.
2. Each government adopting the code will prepare and publish an official list of national ships of war and of merchant vessels, assigning to each vessel one of the signals expressly set apart in the code as the distinguishing signals for making ships’ names. In doing this it would be desirable that the form of these lists, as adopted by France and Great Britain, should be adhered to.
In calling the attention of the government of the United States to this subject, which is one of great importance to the interests of the mercantile marines of all nations, the undersigned has only to add that he will be glad to be enabled to report to her Majesty’s government the view which the United States government may take of this matter, and whether the United States government are disposed to co-operate by the adoption of the code.
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to Mr. Seward the assurance of his highest consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.