Mr. Van Limburg to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have not failed to report to the minister for foreign affairs the conversation which, towards the close of the month of April, I had the honor to have with you on the subject of the admission of the ships-of-war of the United States, and of those of the self-styled Confederate States, to the ports of the Netherlands. I informed him of your wish that henceforward the ships in question should be treated therein as they are either in the ports of France or in the ports of England.
In a letter which I have just received, the minister for foreign affairs expresses to me his astonishment in respect to this, for he had divers reasons to think that the modification introduced in December last had been accepted by the government of the United States in the same spirit which had inspired the government of his Majesty; afterwards, he heard on all sides that commerce was gaining by it, and, in fine, he rested satisfied that the Netherlands regulation was not less favorable to the United States than that of France and of Great Britain.
According to the French declaration of the 10th of June, it is not permitted to any vessel-of-war or privateer of either belligerent to enter and sojourn with prizes for longer than twenty-four hours. But, when an inhibition of this nature existed at our ports, and that a sojourn of twice twenty-four hours was forbidden to vessels-of-war, it was you, Mr. Secretary of State, your minister at the Hague, who reclaimed in consequence of the representation of Captain Palmer, commanding the Iroquois. It was to please you that the new regulation was introduced, and as for Great Britain, following the declaration of June 1, 1861, it is not permitted to vessels-of-war or privateers to enter the English ports with prizes for any period of time whatever. With us, on the contrary, it is not permitted to privateers, but it is permitted to vessels-of-war with their prizes. Since the last English instructions of January 31, 1862, that vessels-of-war or privateers may enter certain ports, a special permission by the government is required, whilst in other British ports they are not allowed to sojourn more than twenty-four hours, saving the case of a storm, damage, &c. They are not allowed to supply themselves with coal, except in very limited quantity.
It is against the restrictions of the last sort that, upon the protest of Captain Palmer, commanding the Iroquois, the government of the United States made remonstrance. His excellency the minister of foreign affairs does not understand that the government of the United States can now desire the re-establishment of an order of things against which it presented remonstrances, and which was modified (to gratify the United States) by a regulation which seems to the Netherlands government certainly not less liberal nor less advantageous to the United States than the French regulations or the English regulation
I have the honor, sir, to renew to you the assurance of my high consideration.
Hon. Mr. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States of America