No. 288.
Mr. Fish
to Sir Edward Thornton.
Department
of State, Washington, June
30, 1875.
Sir: Referring to your note of the 14th of May,
submitting, under instructions from the Earl of Derby, a set of rules in
regard to certain naval salutes, prepared by the lords of the admiralty with
a view to their adoption by the various maritime nations, a copy of which
you were informed in my reply of the 17th May had been sent to the Secretary
of the Navy for his consideration, I have now the honor to transmit to you a
copy of a letter received from the Secretary of the Navy upon the subject,
dated June 26.
I have, &c.,
[Page 657]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Robeson to Mr.
Fish.
Navy
Department, Washington, June 26, 1875.
Sir: I nave the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 17th “May last, inclosing a copy of
a note from the British minister, submitting, under instruction from the
Earl of Derby, a set of rules in regard to certain naval salutes
prepared by the lords of admiralty with a view to their adoption by the
various maritime powers.
The Navy Department concurs in the proposed arrangement, as stated
within, and it will issue accordingly the necessary instructions upon
notification that the arrangement referred to has been adopted by the
principal maritime nations.
The arrangement is as follows:
- 1.
- Salutes not to be returned:
- (a)
- To royal personages, the chief of a state, and to
members of royal families, whether on arrival at or
departure from any port, or upon visiting a ship of
war.
- (b)
- To diplomatic, naval, military, or consular
authorities, or to a governor, when visiting a ship of
war.
- (c)
- Salutes upon occasions of national festivals.
- 2.
- Salutes which are not considered as personal, and should
therefore be returned, gun for gun:
- (a)
- To the national flag on arrival at port.
- (b)
- To flag-officers when meeting.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
GEO. M. ROBESON,
Secretary of the
Navy.
