Ambassador Thompson
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Metropolis, April 4,
1905.
No. 20.]
Sir: For the information of the Department of
State I inclose herewith copy of a letter received from the consul at
Bahia, under date of February 10, with reference to the Brazilian
schooner Oliveira, of Alcobaca, State of Bahia,
which has recently entered the port of Bahia flying at the foremast a
flag resembling our national ensign.
The matter was brought to the attention of the Brazilian Government in my
note to the foreign office dated February 21, with the request that it
take such action as seemed proper. Under date of March 2 a note was
received in reply, saying that it had been referred to the minister of
marine with the request that he give it due consideration. I also
inclose copy of this note to the foreign office and translation of the
reply.
When the matter is further heard from the Department will be
informed.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Consul Furniss
to Ambassador Thompson.
American Consulate,
Bahia, February 10,
1905.
Dear Sir: I beg leave to call your
attention to the fact that the Brazilian schooner Oliveira, of Alcobaça, Bahia, (captain, Joaquim Loures,
and owner, Pedro Muniz d’Oliveira) has twice recently entered this
port flying at the foremast a flag which so much resembles the flag
of the United States of America that it can not be differentiated
when at a distance, even by the use of a glass.
I have sent the clerk on board and had a copy of the flag drawn, and
inclose the same for your information. You can see from the drawing
how easy it would be to mistake this flag for ours, and I have
therefore to suggest that action be taken to prevent its further
use.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Ambassador Thompson to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Petropolis, February 21,
1905.
Mr. Minister: I have to inform you that the
Brazilian schooner Oliveira, of Alcobaça,
Bahia, of which Messrs. Joaquim Loures and Pedro Muniz d’Oliveira
are captain and owner, respectively, has twice recently entered the
port of Bahia flying a flag so much resembling that of the United
States that at a distance it could be not differentiated, even by
the use of a glass.
[Page 98]
For your further information is inclosed a drawing of the flag used
by the Oliveira, and you will see that
confusion might easily arise from the similarity between the two,
and that Brazilian port officials, as well as our consular officers,
might well mistake a Brazilian ship for an American or an American
for a Brazilian.
In view of the fact that your excellency used your good offices in a
previous case of a somewhat like character,a with the effect that
another flag was substituted for that so similar to the national
ensign of the United States, I venture to call your attention for
such action by the proper officials as may seem to you and them
proper.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Minister of Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Thompson.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rio de Janeiro, March 2, 1905.
Mr. Ambassador: I had the honor of
receiving, and have brought to the knowledge of the minister of
marine with the request that he take it into due consideration, the
note which your excellency directed me on the 21st of February last
in respect to the Brazilian schooner Oliveira, of Alcobaça, which carried a flag very similar to
the American, as is shown by the respective design appended to the
note above cited.
I improve the occasion, etc.,
