Mr. Jusserand to Mr. Hay.
Washington, July 3, 1903.
Mr. Secratary of State: I have just been advised by my Government that the steamer Amiral Fourichon of the French company styled “les Chargeurs Réunis,” which sailed from Santa Rosalia, Mexico, on the 18th of March last, has been stopped in the course of her voyage by a war vessel of the United States.
It appears from a report of the captain that on the 20th of March, at 5.30 p.m., in 20° 11′ latitude north and 109° 33′ longitude west, four American war vessels sailed toward the French steamer, and that one of them, speeding ahead, fired a blank cartridge. The Amiral Fourichon immediately stopped and gave the phonic signal indicative thereof. A short while thereafter an ensign of the American Navy boarded the Amiral Fourichon and asked various questions of the captain.
He inquired, among other things, his name, the number of men on the ship’s crew list, and whether he had any mail on board. This last question having been answered in the negative, the officer apologized for the stoppage of the French steamer, and, at the captain’s request, entered the reason for his visit on the ship’s log book, as follows:
This vessel was stopped in order to obtain mail for United States war ships.
| (Signed) | Charles P. Shuff, Ensign, U. S. Navy. |
In bringing these facts to your knowledge, I have, by order of my Government, the honor to call your attention to the anomalous circumstances recited in the report of the commanding officer of the Amiral Fourichon, and I should be thankful if you would enable me to transmit to my Government some information regarding the stoppage to which a vessel under the French flag appears to have been subjected without serious cause.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,