Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress, December 4, 1893
Mr. Thompson to Mr. Gresham.
Petropolis, February 17, 1894. (Received March 19.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit copy and translation of correspondence between the senior commanders of the foreign naval forces, the diplomatic representatives whose governments are represented by naval forces, and the minister of foreign affairs, with the view of securing a safer anchorage for the war and merchant vessels lying in the harbor.
It has been pleasant to observe the willingness and promptness with which his excellency the Vice-President has responded to every request of the commanders.
I have, etc.,
Naval commandants to diplomatic corps.
Rio de Janeiro, January 11, 1894.
The senior naval representations of the United States of America, France, Portugal, England, and Italy have the honor to inform their respective diplomatic representatives that they have observed with great surprise the firing from heavy guns from the battery on Coquerida (Bom-Jesus) Island at two vessels of the insurgents, the Trajano and Guandbara, lying to the northward and westward a short distance from Euxadas Island. This firing was commenced by the guns on Coquerida Island, and was replied to by the heavy guns on the two vessels. The zone fired over was that in which the merchant ships of many nations lie at anchor; a premature explosion of shells from either side, which not infrequently happens, might have destroyed both life and property.
This seems a strange coincidence after the letter received by the senior commanders, through their diplomatic representatives, from the ministry of foreign affairs for the Brazilian Government, dated January 8, and also after the fact that this position for anchoring was given us verbally but officially by the captain of the port, and we inclose a communication which shows this to be the case absolutely.
- A. Aubry,
Commanding Naval Forces of Italy. - S. Rolleston,
Commanding English Naval Forces. - Augusto de Costilho,
Commanding Naval Forces of Portugal. - De Barbeyrac,
Commanding the Naval Forces of France. - Henry F. Picking,
Commanding Naval Forces of the United States of America.
Rear-Admiral Magnaghi to Capt. Picking.
I have the honor to inform you that following the suggestions expressed by the superior commanders of all naval forces present in Rio de Janeiro, I sent an officer to ask the captain of the port to indicate the space assigned for the anchorage of merchant and war vessels. The reply was made verbally but officially, and a line was traced on the plan of the bay fixing the limit of the safe anchorage for all ships. Accept, etc.,
The line was traced by the Italian officer who communicated the information to this vessel,-starting from Caju Point, passing over Chapeo do Sul, and ending at Vianna Island. The safe anchorage for foreign vessels was indicated to the northward of the said line.
Ensign U. S. Navy, Secretary.
Diplomatic Corps to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal have received from the commanders of the naval forces of their respective countries a communication informing them that the line of fire of the batteries established on the island of Bom-Jesus cuts the line of refuge of the merchant ships as these find themselves threatened by the premature explosion of projectiles coming either from the batteries or the insurgent ships.
The representatives of the above-mentioned powers have the honor to draw the attention of his excellency the minister of foreign affairs to these facts, from which it appears that the zone indicated by the captain of the port for the anchorage of merchant ships might be exposed to the fire from the batteries of the island of Bom-Jesus. They renew, therefore, the request which they made to him in their note of December 26 last, to designate an anchorage offering every safety as well to ships of war as to merchant ships.
Diplomatic corps to the naval commandants.
The representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note of the 11th of January, addressed to them by the commanding officers of the naval forces of their respective countries. They did not fail upon the receipt of this communication to send to the minister of foreign affairs of the Federal Government a note of the same date, a copy of which is annexed, repeating the request made before, that is, December 14, for the appointment of an anchorage offering every safety to the ships of war and to those of commerce.
The minister of state for foreign affairs has received the note which the representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal, addressed him on the 14th instant, to call his attention to the communication from [Page 134] the commanders of the naval forces of their respective countries, informing him that the line of fire of the batteries established on the island of Bom-Jesus, cutting the zone indicated by the captain of the port for the anchorage, threatened by the premature explosion of projectiles coming either from these batteries or the insurgents’ ships. The said note having been brought to the knowledge of the Vice-President of the Republic, his excellency has resolved to have the cannon withdrawn from the battery of Bom-Jesus until the outlining of a zone which shall offer every safety for the anchorage either of war ships or ships of commerce.
Diplomatic Corps to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal have the honor to acknowledge to his excellency the minister of foreign affairs receipt of the note which came to them yesterday in reply to theirs of the 14th instant. They see with satisfaction that his excellency the vice president of the Republic has resolved to have the cannon withdrawn from the batteries of the island of Bom Jesus until the designation of a zone which shall offer every security for the anchorage as well of war ships as of ships of commerce. They hastened to inform the commanders of the naval forces of their respective countries of this resolution.
Diplomatic corps to the naval commandants.
The representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal have the honor to transmit to the commanding; officers of the naval forces of their respective countries copy of a note from the minister of foreign affairs of the Federal Government which came to them yesterday in reply to theirs of the 14th instant.
The note of Mr. Cassiano do Nascimento announces to them that his excellency, the vice-president of the Republic has resolved to have the cannon withdrawn from the battery of the island of Bom Jesus until the designation of a zone which shall offer every security for the anchorage as well of warships as of ships of commerce.
Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Diplomatic Corps.
The minister of foreign affairs communicates to the representatives of England, Italy, the United States of America, France, and Portugal that the insurgents, profiting by the action of the vice-president of the republic, inspired by their note of the 14th instant, in having the guns withdrawn from the battery on Bom Jesus Island, occupied this latter at 4 o’clock on the morning of the 24th.