Mr. Adee to Mr. Dupuy de Lôme.
Washington, August 6, 1897.
Sir: I have the honor to further reply to the oral communication of Mr. Soler of the 2d instant and to his note of the same date notifying this Department that the steamer Dauntless proposed to set out the next day on a filibustering expedition. In this connection Mr. Soler said:
Remembering the orders which the Government of the United States has given, that an officer of its Navy be present in person upon the said vessel and watch her, I have also to inform your excellency that this legation has learned that the aforesaid officer has not considered himself obliged to go on board because the arms which were on the Dauntless have been landed and she is now in ballast.
Mr. Soler’s communication having been referred to the Secretary of the Navy, I am to-day informed by the Acting Secretary that no orders have ever been issued by his Department directing a United States naval officer to be present on board that vessel, and that there is not at the present time an officer available for such service at Jacksonville.
It would appear from this that there is some confusion in the mind of Mr. Soler between a naval-marine and a revenue-marine officer, the latter acting, as you are aware, under direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Accept, etc.,
Acting Secretary.