Mr. White to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London, September 26,
1898.
No. 530.]Sir: Referring to Mr. Adee’s cipher telegram of
21st instant, I have the honor to inform you that I lost no time upon
its receipt in addressing a note to the Marquis of Salisbury, of which I
inclose a copy herewith. I took it myself to the foreign office and
requested the under secretary (to whom I handed it) to read it at once,
which he did, and I furthermore asked that the answer of Her Majesty’s
Government might be given as promptly as possible.
On the 24th I received a private note stating that the Helena will be permitted to coal at Bermuda and Gibraltar on
the understanding that she will not reenforce our Asiatic Squadron
should hostilities be renewed with Spain.
I therefore sent you the telegram, whereof a copy is inclosed, together
with that of a note to the foregoing effect, which I have received
to-day from the foreign office. I have expressed my thanks to the
Marquis of Salisbury for the courtesy of Her Majesty’s Government in the
matter.
I have, etc.,
[Page 1005]
[Inclosure 1—Telegram.]
Mr. Adee to Mr.
White.
Department of State,
September 21, 1898.
It is desired to send small light-draft gunboat Helena to China for river service, for which purpose she
was expressly built. Will sail about October 1, touching at Bermuda,
Madeira, and Gibraltar. Ask permission to visit Bermuda and
Gibraltar and coal therein, with understanding that the vessel does
not reenforce Asiatic Squadron for operations against Spain should
hostilities be resumed.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. White to Lord
Salisbury.
American Embassy,
London, September 22,
1898.
My Lord: I have the honor to inform your
lordship that my Government would like to send a small gunboat, the
Helena, of light draft, to China for
river service, for which purpose she has been expressly built. It is
desired that she should sail from the United States about the 1st of
October, touching at Bermuda and Gibraltar.
I am accordingly instructed to ask permission of Her Majesty’s
Government for the Helena to visit Bermuda
and Gibraltar and to coal at those places, upon the understanding
that she does not reenforce the Asiatic Squadron of the United
States for operations against Spain should hostilities unfortunately
be resumed between those countries.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Lord Salisbury to
Mr. White.
Foreign Office, September 24, 1898.
Sir: In compliance with the request
contained in your note of the 22d instant, on the understanding
mentioned therein, I have the honor to inform you that permission
will be granted for the U. S. gunboat Helena
to coal at Bermuda and Gibraltar.
The secretary of state for the colonies has been requested to issue
instructions to the governors of the two colonies to that
effect.
I have, etc.,
F. H.
Villiers
,
(For the Marquis of Salisbury.)
[Inclosure 4—Telegram.]
Mr. White to Mr.
Adee.
American Embassy,
September 24, 1898.
British Government will allow Helena to coal
at Bermuda and Gibraltar on the understanding stated in your
telegram of 21st.
