Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Day to Mr. Woodford.

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, March 27, 1898.

With reference to the first part of the Saturday memorandum, you may explain that the captain of the Maine merely sought permission to employ small explosive charges on upper works, to clear away wreckage and get at bodies and guns, but finding his request misunderstood and opposed, he withdrew it, under instructions from the Secretary of the Navy.

Day.