Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I

No. 619.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Merrill.

Department of State,
Washington, May 2, 1888.

No. 80.]

Sir: I have received your dispatch No. 179, of the 4th ultimo, touching the recent cruise of Her Majesty’s ship (Caroline, and the action of her commander in taking possession on behalf of the British Government of certain islands in the Pacific.

I inclose, for your information, a copy of my instruction^† to the chargé d’affaires ad interim of this Government at London, No. 862, of the 30th ultimo, concerning a copy of the correspondence exchanged between Her Majesty’s minister here and this Department in 1879 in regard to Christmas Island.

You will report any further facts in relation to the reported occupation of the islands in question which may come to your knowledge.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.

1. For inclosure see document No. 517, ante, page 712.