No. 287.
Sir Edward
Thornton to Mr. Cadwalader.
Sir: In compliance with an instruction which I have received from the Earl of Derby, I have the honor to state that the lords commissioners of the admiralty have informed his lordship that their attention has been called, with reference to the revision now being made of the “Queen’s Regulations and Admiralty Instruction,” to the fact that it is a general, although not the invariable, rule that the salute to a diplomatic, naval, military, or other authority visiting the ship of war of another nation is not returned or acknowledged from any ship of his own nation present, as such salutes are considered as personal.
Their lordships have therefore suggested that it would be very desirable if the various maritime powers could be brought to a common understanding on this subject, and that the question should be so placed beyond a doubt in all instances.
With this view the lords of the admiralty propose that the following general arrangement in regard to salutes should be submitted for the consideration of the various maritime powers:
- 1.
- Salutes not to be returned:
- (a)
- To royal personages, the chief of a state, and to members of royal families, whether on arrival at or departure from any port, or upon visiting a ship of war.
- (b)
- To diplomatic, naval, military, or consular authorities, or to a governor when visiting a ship of war.
- (c)
- Salutes upon occasions of national festivals.
- 2.
- Salutes which are not considered as personal, and should therefore
be returned, gun for gun:
- (a)
- To the national flag on arrival at a port.
- (b)
- To flag-officers when meeting.
I have accordingly the honor to bring this matter to the notice of the Government of the United States, and to state that Her Majesty’s government will be glad to be informed whether it concurs in the proposed arrangement.
I have, &c.,