Mr. Pike to Mr. Seward.
The Hague, September 4, 1861.
Sir: Since writing to you on the 28th ultimo in regard to my action on the strength of the public reports in respect to the steamer Sumter, I have received your despatch, No. 15, under date of the 15th of August, and also its duplicate.
I immediately addressed a communication to this government presenting the substance of that despatch. I have since had two interviews with Baron Van Zuylen, the minister of foreign affairs, on the questions involved and likely to be involved in the case. Mr. Van Zuylen has informed me that his government has received a brief communication from the governor of Curaçoa stating that the vessel in question put into the port of Curaçoa in distress, and was not a privateer.
In the course of our first interview Baron Van Zuylen dropped the remark that it was probable the vessel was regarded as a ship-of-war of the so-called Confederate States, but he subsequently seemed to desire to withdraw the suggestion.
I felt it to be my duty to protest against the idea that aid and countenance could be afforded by a friendly power to the Sumter, though she did assume the character of a ship-of-war of the insurgents. I claimed that were she afforded shelter and supplies on this ground by the authorities at Curaçoa, and should the Dutch government approve the act, it would be, substantially, a recognition of the southern confederacy, and that in my judgment such an act would be regarded by the United States as an unfriendly, and even hostile act, which might lead to the gravest consequences. I held that nothing more need be asked by the so-styled Confederate States, as a practical measure of recognition, than that a ship like the Sumter, claiming to be a national vessel of those States, should be permitted to enter the neighboring ports of foreign nations, and there obtain the necessary means to enable her to depredate upon the commerce of the United States. That such a course on the part of any power, aggravated by the fact that she was unable to obtain such supplies at home, so far from being neutral conduct was really to afford the most efficient aid to the men who were in rebellion against their own government, and plundering and destroying the vessels and property of their fellow citizens on the high seas. I protested against such a doctrine as tending necessarily to the termination of all friendly relations between our government and any government that would tolerate such practices, whether that government were France or England or Spain or Holland. I remarked that it was not for me to judge of the purposes of European powers in regard to the existing state of things in the United States; but if there were to be exhibited a disposition anywhere to take advantage of our present situation, I believed it would be found that such a course could not be taken with impunity now, nor without leading to alienation and bitterness in the future.
Baron Van Zuylen hereupon explained that the earnest desire of his government was to maintain friendly relations with the United States, and to do nothing to interrupt the existing harmony between the two countries. That the point in question had not been considered by his government, and that the whole case should receive careful attention so soon as the facts relating to it could be ascertained. He has since sent me a note on the subject, which I enclose.
The baron stated to me that the governor of Curaçoa had received the instructions of the Dutch government, and the baron was of the opinion that [Page 361] the governor had paid too much attention to the letter, overlooking the spirit of the instructions, which remark I took to mean, that as the governor’s instructions only ordered the exclusion of privateers and vessels not in distress, and that as the Sumter claimed to be a vessel of war, and to be in distress, the governor had sought to shield his action under this shallow and transparent device of the privateer, which could certainly deceive nobody who was not willing to be deceived.
I presume there is no danger of the Dutch government taking any position on this question in haste, as that is not their way. It is quite probable they will take time to send to Curçaoa for facts and particulars. Meantime the British government seem likely to have to act on the same question, as I see the Sumter has been at Trinidad, which will afford them a precedent, for which I am the more sorry, as I learned enough while I was in England to satisfy me that that government was likely to indulge in loose practices in regard to vessels sailing under the confederate flag.
But there is nothing in the circumstances or dispositions of this government, in my opinion, to induce them to exhibit unfriendliness to us or grant favors to the confederates, whatever there may be on the part of some of their slaveholding governors, of whom I infer him of Curaçoa to be one. I expect therefore to find the authorities here pursue a course void of offence towards the United States, however others may act. I shall make it my endeavor to induce the minister of foreign affairs to have sent out at once such instructions to the West Indies as will prevent the Sumter, or her confederates, from making use of the Dutch ports in future, whatever their pretensions.
Since penning the foregoing, and at the last moment before being compelled to close for the mail, I have had a third interview with Baron Van Zuylen. He states that the instructions sent out in June were framed purposely different from those of France, and excluded all reference to vessels of war, solely because that course was deemed more favorable to the United States government which had ships-of-war and no privateers. You will remember that I called attention to this peculiarity at the time.
In answer to my, inquiry whether he would not immediately adapt his instructions to cover such cases as that of the Sumter, information of which I was desirous to transmit by the next steamer, he replied that the subject was now under consideration in the colonial department. He insisted, however, that the governor of Curaçoa declared the vessel was admitted on the ground of her being in distress, she having carried away one of her masts, and that before admitting her he convoked his council, who recommend the course he pursued.
I renewedly represented to Baron Van Zuylen the very grave character of this question and its vital importance to the commerce of the United States.
Since the government here must by this time fully understand that our government is very much in earnest on this subject, I entertain the hope that they will hurry their deliberations to a favorable conclusion.
Allusion having been made on my part to the possible influence of slaveholding sympathies in this case, I was pleased to be informed by Baron Van Zuylen that the question of slavery had been finally determined in Holland, and that emancipation is to take place in all the Dutch colonies within two years.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington.