Sir Juliun Pauncefote to Mr. Sherman.
Washington, April 26, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that at the instance of Her Majesty’s consul-general at Habana, Her Majesty’s Government desire to send a British vessel of war to visit that port and a British gunboat to visit Santiago de Cuba during the existing state of war between the United States and Spain.
I am instructed to inquire whether your Government are willing to give facilities for that purpose on the understanding that the visits of those vessels are solely for the purpose of giving any necessary advice or assistance to the British consular officers, and will not be prolonged beyond the time required to effect that object.
I have, etc.,