Office of the Historian

Mr. Sherman to Mr. Hay.

Department of State,
Washington, June 1, 1897.
No. 72.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 33, of the 12th ultimo, in regard to the Queen’s Jubilee, which is to occur during the present month at London, and the part the Government of the United States is to take in the proposed ceremonies.

My instructions, Nos. 66 and 67, of the 28th ultimo, covering the telegrams which have been exchanged upon the subject, will have shown you the determination of the President to appoint a special embassy, as follows:

1.
His Excellency Whitelaw Reid as ambassador extraordinary of the United States of America on special mission.
2.
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A., to represent the War Department.
3.
Rear-Admiral Joseph N. Miller, U. S. N., to represent the Navy.
4.
Mr. Ogden Mills as secretary and attaché.

It is understood that Major-General Miles will be attended by his aid-de-camp, Capt. M. P. Maus, U. S. A., and Rear-Admiral Miller by his staff.

I inclose for your information and for the files of your embassy copies of the necessary correspondence in relation to the matter.

It is unnecessary to assure you of the President’s grateful appreciation of your courteous action in the matter of his suggestion to send a special embassy on so memorable an occasion. Your distinct telegraphic statement of the 25th ultimo that Her Majesty would receive only one special envoy from each country, coupled with your previous announcement that you could be of more service in your present capacity, prevented the President from including yourself in the special embassy. He doubts not, however, that it will be your pleasure to cooperate with Mr. Reid in all possible ways to insure harmony of action, and to promote the delicate and important task intrusted to Mr. Reid. He has been instructed to consult with you freely on all matters of detail, and thus the matter is confidently left to the judgment of Mr. Reid and yourself, since it is not possible at the present time to give him specific or detailed instructions. He will take his departure probably to-morrow for London.

Respectfully, yours,

John Sherman.