[Enclosure No. 2.-Translation of No. 1.] Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow. PARIS, June 8, 1865. SIR: I have had the honor to inform you, under date of May 31, that after the communication which you had the kindness to address to me on the 29th, we had no longer any objec tion to withdrawing the quality of belligerents from the confederates. We have had to consider since then the bearing of this resolution with regard to their war-ships. I deem it my duty now to inform you of the measures taken by us to insure the efficient and equitable carrying out of that resolution. M. the minister of marine, under date of the 5th instant, announced to the competent authorities in the ports of the empire and of its colonies that the southern States no longer presenting, in our opinion, the character of belligerents, their flag could no more be unfurled or recognized in French waters. Consequently, no vessel bearing that flag can henceforth be permitted to enter them, and it will be necessary to demand the immediate departure of all confederate war-vessels which may yet be staying in our ports in consequence of our declaration of neutrality, as soon as the instructions of M. the minister of marine reach there. It is just, however, that these vessels should not be deprived of the benefit of the regulation in force at the time of their arrival in case a United States ship had been simultaneously admitted into port. Hence, for the last time, an interval of twenty-four hours should elapse between the departure of the confederate and that of the United States ship which should chance be together in the same French port. Accept assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant, Mr. BIGELOW, Minister of the United States at Paris. DROUYN DE LHUYS. [Enclosure No. 3.-Translation.] [From the Moniteur of June 8, 1865.] The Evening Moniteur, in its weekly summary of foreign policy, announces that the resolution by which the French government revoked the order in virtue whereof the stay of federal vessels-of-war was limited to twenty-four hours, save in case of stress, has been made effective by the definitive withdrawal of the declaration of neutrality of June, 1861. The imperial government, as soon as it had learned the capitulation of the principal southern armies, had manifested its intention to withdraw that declaration; but, before yielding to its inclination, it had to assure itself that neutral vessels would cease to be visited by the United States navy. In fact, neutrality could not be renounced if the usage of the laws of war against foreign commerce was continued. On its side, the London Gazette has published a letter, addressed by Earl Russell to the lords of the admiralty, to announce to them that the English government, in consequence of the re-establishment of peace throughout the territory in possession of North America before the commencement of the war, no longer recognizes the character of belligerents in the confederates. The various authorities of her Majesty in all the ports, roadsteads and waters belonging to her, either within the United Kingdom or beyond sea, are instructed to refuse entry into port to any vessel-of-war under the confederate flag, and not any longer to suffer the presence of those which should happen to be there at the time of this declaration. [Enclosure No. 5.-Translation of No. 4.] Instructions from the Minister of Marine. PARIS, June 5, 1865. SIR: In proclaiming by its declaration of June 10, 1861, the rules of neutrality which it meant to observe between the belligerents of the divers States of North America, the government of the Emperor recognized a pre-existing fact, namely, that of a struggle going on between two portions of the territory of the United States; a struggle in which both sides observed the rules of war, as well in their treatment and exchange of prisoners as in the rights exercised towards neutral vessels. Now, after the events which have occurred, the position is entirely changed. The minis ter of the United States near the government of the Emperor has stated that the cabinet at Washington consider the war ended, and abandon all pretension to the right of searching neutral vessels as practiced during war. Under these circumstances the government of the Emperor does not consider it its duty any longer to recognize belligerents in the States of North America. In consequence, ships presenting themselves as confederate vessels can no longer be received in the continental or colonial ports, nor in the territorial waters of the empire; and the confederate flag can no longer be unfurled in our ports. Such of these vessels as may happen to be in our ports when the present despatch reaches you, shall have to leave; but with regard to them, you will, for the last time, observe the rule repeated in my circular of February 5, 1864, according to which an interval of twentyfour hours at least shall elapse between the departure of any vessel-of-war of one belligerent and the departure of any vessel-of-war of the other. Accept, &c., &c. No. 118.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, June 15, 1865. SIR: In pursuance of your instructions I availed myself of an opportunity to speak with the minister of foreign affairs in reference to the rejection, by the minister of agriculture, commerce, and public works, of the application made by Mr. Zumpstein, on behalf of the American Emigration Company, for leave to enter into certain engagements with emigrants for their transport from Havre to the United States. His excellency expressed some surprise that such an application had been denied, and requested me to send him the letter from Mr. Zumpstein, which I communicated to the minister of agriculture, commerce, and public works, in March last, a copy of which may be found in my despatch No. 60. I promptly sent to the foreign office a copy of Mr. Zumpstein's communication, with a note, of which enclosure No. 1 is a copy. On the 14th instant I received a note from Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, of which enclosure No. 2 is a copy, removing all obstacles to the operations of the American Emigration Company of a serious character. I propose to communicate a copy of the reply of Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Zumpstein without delay. If Mr. Zumpstein were instructed to keep me advised of what he is doing, from time to time, I think it would be advantageous both to the company and to the government. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JOHN BIGELOW. Secretary of State, &c., &c. &c. [Enclosure No. 1.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In compliance with your excellency's request, I hasten to transmit a copy of the note of Mr. Zumpstein, agent for France of the American Emigrant Company, to his excellency the minister of agriculture, commerce and public works, which formed one of the subjects of our conversation yesterday. If the motives for refusing Mr. Zumpstein's application were of a nature to be modified by any explanation as to the character and objects of the company which I might be able to make, I should be happy to wait upon your excellency for that purpose, at your excellency's convenience. I profit by this occasion to renew to your excellency assurances of the very high consideration with which I am your very obedient and very humble servant, His Excellency Monsieur DROUYN DE LHUYS. JOHN BIGELOW. [Enclosure No. 2.-Translation.] Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow. PARIS, June 14, 1865. · SIR: After the interview at which you had expressed to me the wish that the American company called the American Emigrant Company should be authorized to undertake, in France, operations for the engagement and transportation of emigrants, you did me the honor to communicate to me on the 14th of last month a letter from Mr. Zumpstein, the agent of that company in Havre, requesting you to inform the French government, if necessary, upon the nature of the enterprise, and the guarantees which it presents. The minister of commerce and of the interior, to whom I hastened to transmit the request of the American Emigrant Company, recommending it to their particular consideration, and pointing out to them the support which you would give to it, have deemed it susceptible of being favorably received, and it is pleasing to me to be enabled to announce to you, sir, that the minister of agriculture, commerce, and public works has, on the eighth of this month, in concert with the minister of the interior, issued an order which authorizes Mr. Zumpstein to undertake in Havre operations for the engagement and transportation of emigrants. The amount of the security to be given, agreeably to the decree of March 7, 1861, is fixed at 40,000 francs, and the French government accepts the surety presented by Mr. Zumpstein. While charging the prefect of the Lower Seine with the execution of the order of the 8th of June, Mr. Behic has given him instructions in this sense. Receive, sir, the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant, Mr. BIGELOW, Minister of the United States, Paris. DROUYN DE LHUYS. No. 173.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 15, 1865. SIR: Your despatch of the 31st ultimo, No. 109, with its accompanying testimonials of sympathy inspired by the death of the late President Abraham Lincoln, has been received. In compliance with your request these communications will be forwarded to their proper destinations. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: I have before me your despatch of May 23, No. 98, and also your despatch of June 1, No. 111. Each of these communications is accompanied by correspondence which has taken place between yourself and Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys upon the subject of the denial by the French government of customary naval courtesies to the United States, and upon the claim which was insisted upon by the United States, that the belligerent privileges heretofore accorded by France to the insurgents of this country should be withdrawn. In effect, the first of your communications announces that the imperial government has revoked its instructions in regard to the courtesies due to the fleet of the United States which were complained of. The second of your despatches brings the information that the French government has responded to our representations concerning the late belligerent privileges to the insurgents by withdrawing from them the belligerent character. I have carefully considered the arguments employed in the correspondence between yourself and Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, which has happily resulted in these important and gratifying declarations of the French government. While I do not concur in the positions which Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys has assumed in his part of the correspondence, I do not think it necessary to reopen the past discussion. Happily, the frank and explicit manner in which the correspondence between the two governments has been conducted during the four years of the insurrection has left no necessity for either party to restate now the position which it held during that eventful period. Insisting, therefore, by way of extreme caution, that the grounds heretofore assumed by the United States remain, in their judgment, undisturbed by the arguments which have been brought against them, I am content to leave the questions referred to to stand as they have been duly recorded, as questions which, once practical, have now become in a great degree historical. I find no reason to dissent from the opinion which you have expressed to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, to the effect that the right of visitation and search on the part of the United States would cease immediately after a withdrawal of the imperial declaration by which the insurgents were recognized as a belligerent. These preliminaries being thus disposed of, I am authorized by the President to accept, on behalf of the United States, the declaration of the French govern ment, and to respond with sincerity and frankness to the desire which the imperial government has so generously expressed, that the now restored relations of the two governments may be wisely improved, so as to revive the old sympathies of the two nations, whose interests and traditions constantly invite them to cultivate the most cordial friendship. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th instant, No. 116, with five accompaniments, in regard to the withdrawal of the concession of belligerent rights to the insurgents by France. SIR: I have the honor to enclose a copy of my letter to M. Cochin, secretary of the French emancipation society, written in compliance with the instructions contained in Mr. Hunter's despatch No. 161. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,` Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. JOHN BIGELOW. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Cochin. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, June 21, 1865. DEAR SIR: The address of the French committee of emancipation which you desired me to communicate to the President of the United States has been received. I am instructed to express to you the gratification he has derived from the evidence already furnished by your organization of the earnest desire of so respectable a body of French citizens to aid the people of the United States in their efforts to ameliorate the condition of that race which has suffered so long all the evils of slavery. In partial response to your request for publications tending to promote the objects of your committee, I transmit herewith the third annual report of the National Freedmen's Relief Association of the District of Columbia. I am, dear sir, with high consideration, your very obedient servant, Monsieur A. COCHIN. JOHN BIGELOW. No. 132.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Enclosed I transmit to you a few more testimonials of sympathy received at this legation on the occasion of the assassination of our late President. They are divided into three categories, similar to those already transmitfed by me with despatch No. 109, and numbered in continuation of that series. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. [For enlosures see Appendix, separate volume.] [Enclosures to despatch No. 132.] FIRST CATEGORY. Letters addressed to Mrs. Lincoln, from JOHN BIGELOW. No. 12. Freemason lodge, St. Auguste de la Bienfaisance, of Bologne sur Seine. No. 14. Sealed letter. No. 15. Sealed letter. No. 16. Sealed letter. [The above enclosures forwarded to Mrs. Lincoln July 15.] SECOND CATEGORY. First subdivision. Addresses from Freemason lodges to the United States minister at Paris: No. 19. La Parfaite Union, of Confolens, Charente. No. 9. Amis de la Parfaite Union, of Perpignan, with three enclosures. No. 10. Bienfaiteurs Réunis, of Gentilly. No. 11. St. Auguste de la Bienfaisance of Boulogne sur Seine. No. 12. La Nouvelle Amitié of Grasse. No. 13. L'Harmonie. [Those for Grand Lodge, New York, sent to Mr. James Austin, grand secretary.] |