No. 253.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Moran.
Department
of State,
Washington, November 28,
1876.
No. 62.]Sir: I inclose a copy of a letter of the Secretary
of the Navy, dated the 18th instant, in which he suggests the desirability
of the co-operation of the Governments of Portugal and Brazil in the
determination, telegraphically from Paris, of the longitudes of both coasts
of South America.
You are requested to present the suggestion of the Navy Department to the
Government of Portugal, and to inform me of its reply at your early
convenience.
An instruction similar to this will be addressed to the minister at Bio de
Janeiro.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Robeson to Mr.
Fish.
Washington, November 18,
1876. (Received November 19.)
Sir: For the purpose of adding to the safety of
navigation, it seems desirable that the longitudes of both coasts of
South America should be determined telegraphically from Paris, and that
the Portuguese and Brazilian Governments should be invited to co-operate
with a sufficient force belonging to our Navy to attain that end.
Should one or both of the governments be pleased to co-operate, our naval
parties would take up the work at any point or points desired by them in
the Atlantic, whether at Lisbon, the island of Maderia, the Azores, or
Rio de Janeiro, and would continue the work across the continent and
along the western coast of South America, wherever the telegraphic line
might exist, and with the approval, concurrence, and such aid as Chili
and Peru might be disposed to render.
Should either of the governments find it inconvenient to co-operate and
be disposed to allow our naval parties the necessary facilities, as has
been cordially done by several governments in the West Indies, the work
will be executed by us at the earliest period that may be found
practicable by this department.
I am, &c.,
