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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Secretary of the Navy John D. Long to Secretary of State William R. Day

John D. Long,

    Secretary.

NAVY DEPARTMENT.

Washington, June 29, 1898.          

Sir:

    The last telegram from the Naval Attache1 in London states that Camara’s Fleet2 will pass the Suez Canal tomorrow, June 30th. It has been reported that a British collier, or colliers, awaits it off the Island of Perim at the mouth of the Red Sea. This Department requests that the Department of State should address a remonstrance to the Turkish Government (or proper Government concerned)3 upon this proposed violation of its neutrality.

    This Department will buy the coal referred to if it is for sale; this might be ascertained, with price by your officers at or near Perim.

Very respectfully,

John D. Long

Secretary.

Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 45, Entry 29. Addressed below close: “The Honorable/The Secretary of State.”

Footnote 1: The naval attaché in London was Lt. John C. Colwell.

Footnote 2: RAdm. Manuel de la Cámara y Libermoore’s fleet set sail for the Philippines on 16 June, but left Suez on 11 July, since the American Navy was free to dispatch a fleet to invade Spain after RAdm. Cervera’s defeat on 3 July.

Footnote 3: Although Egypt was technically part of the Ottoman Empire it had for all practical purposes been independent from 1805 to 1882. In the latter year Egypt became a protectorate under Great Britain.

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