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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

IrwinB. Laughlin, Secretary to the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Walter Hines Page, to United States Department of State

<Cablegram,>

To   Department of State, Washington.

From American Embassy, London                February 9. 1918.

DATE February 9, 4 p.m.

NO.  8587.

     No ground for misunderstanding appears in the subject matter of your 6504 of February 8, 8 p.m.1 Admiral Sims2 and Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the British Admiralty, agreed that the Brazilian naval unit was to be regarded for purposes of administration as a part of the American Squadron now based on Gibraltar3 and that the Senior Naval Officer,4 who happens to be British, was to have control of the whole group of vessels. This is perfectly well understood by the British Admiralty and I know that the British Minister at Rio received instructions to this effect because I helped to draft the telegram sent on the 5th instant.5 I am discussing the question again with Mr. Balfour6 and will make another report at a later date.

_____________Z

MR. LAUGHLIN

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: This document has not been found.

Footnote 2: VAdm. William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

Footnote 4: RAdm. Sir Heathcote S. Grant.

Footnote 5: This cable has not been found.

Footnote 6: British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Arthur J. Balfour.

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