Record

Document Reference	Bu 45/41
Title	Copy despatch from A. Buchanan, Madrid, Spain, to 3rd Earl of Malmesbury [J. Harris], Foreign Office, London; 31 Aug 1858.
Date	31 August 1858
Extent	2 ff
Level	Piece
Content Description	Reports that an American citizen has hoisted an American flag on a British island in the Caribbean, in an attempt to claim American sovereignty; this appears to be a common practice of American citizens on remote Caribbean islands; an American citizen declared that if no-one exercises sovereignty over two particular islands the U.S.A. will claim possession; he understands that in the reign of George III these islands were placed under the protection of the Governor of the Virgin Islands; one of them is now inhabited by British subjects; he has heard that the Government of Puerto Rico asserts that Spain has a claim to these islands and that Britain has abandoned her claim, although he does not know of any record of this.
Term	territorial disputes, Caribbean

Persons

Code	PersonName	Dates of existence
NA136	Buchanan; Andrew (1807-1882); 1st Baronet; diplomat	1807-1882
NA6098	Harris; James H. (1807-1889); 3rd Earl of Malmesbury	1807-1889

Places