No. 554.
Sir L. S.
Sackville West to Mr. Bayard.
Washington, February 14,
1888. (Received February 17.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you
herewith a statement of certain facts connected with the sale of a
British vessel to parties in the United States and in view thereof to
inquire whether it would be
[Page 787]
possible for the United States Government to adopt any measures for
preventing vessels apparently sold to and owned by citizens of the
United States from continuing to sail under the British flag.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
statement.
In August, 1883, a brigantine called the Aristos, registered at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, stranded at
Santa Cruz and became a wreck. The shipwrecked crew were relieved by
Her Majesty’s Government. It was, however, afterwards discovered
that the said vessel had been sold some twenty years previous to her
loss to parties in the United States. The ship in question had
evaded the law which requires the closing of the registry upon sale,
and it is thought that there are other vessels which in the same
manner have evaded it, and, although bona
fide American vessels, are actually sailing under the
British flag.
The British Board of Trade, therefore, would be glad to know whether
it is possible for the United States Government to adopt measures
for preventing British vessels which have been sold to American
citizens from continuing to sail under the British flag.
