Mr. Dayton to Mr.
Seward.
No. 364.]
Paris,
October 16, 1863.
Sir: Your despatches from 386 to 408, both
inclusive, (excepting only 399 and 404,) have been duly received, and
their contents noted. The two despatches which seem to be missing may
yet come to hand, or there may be some error in numbering. I would,
however, if rightly numbered, be glad to receive duplicates of them.
Herewith I enclose to you a translation of the answers of Mr. Drouyn de
l’Huys and Compte Chasseloup Laubat, minister of marine, to my
application in respect to the vessels-of-war now being constructed at
Bordeaux and Nantes. I told Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys that these papers were
not so explicit and full as I desired them, that I thought it but due to
the United States, as a friendly government, that the authorization for
arming these vessels, obtained through a fraudulent representation
practiced upon the authorities of France, should be promptly withdrawn.
He said he considered the letter from the minister of marine as
equivalent to a promise to do so; that that minister in his letter had
concurred with him (Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys) in the assurance that the
strict neutrality would be maintained; and as the construction and
armament of these ships for the purposes indicated was a clear violation
of this neutrality, his letter was a promise, &c. I told him that
their intended action on this question was too important to be left to
inference, and I begged, therefore, an explicit answer as to what would
be done in reference to this authorization and these vessels. He seemed
to consider the letters in question a full answer, but said he would
make a note of my request for a more explicit reply, and communicate it
to the minister of marine.
You will observe that neither of these papers speak of the shells and
projectiles, &c., except as connected with the armament of these
vessels. I shall, of course, advise you promptly of whatever may be done
in the premises.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.,
&c., &c.
[Translation.]
Mr. de l’Huys to Mr. Dayton.
Sir: You have done me the honor to write to
me, to call my attention to agreements entered into (marchés passés) in France, according to
information which you have communicated to me, for the construction
and delivery to the
[Page 794]
seceded States of several vessels armed for war. You have expressed
the desire that the official authorization accorded for the armament
of these vessels might be withdrawn, and that the government of the
Emperor might take measures, which it should judge proper, to
prevent the completion and delivery of the vessels themselves. I
hastened to speak of this matter to my colleague of the department
of the marine, recommending it very particularly to his examination.
I do not believe that I can do better than to transmit to you, sir,
a copy of the answer which he has just addressed to me. The only
information which the department of the marine had directly received
concerning the operations in question attributed to them, as you
will see, is of such a character that, up to the present moment,
there was no motive for hindering them. It is only, then, by the
explanations which he is going to call forth, by the aid of the
papers which you have brought to my knowledge, that M. le Comte de
Chasseloup Laubat shall be able to judge of the measures to be taken
conformably to our declaration of neutrality.
Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the
honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,
Mr. Dayton, Minister
of the United States at Paris.
[Translation.]
M. the Minister of the Marine to
M. le Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Monsieur le Minister and Dear Colleague:
You have done me the honor to communicate to me the 25th of
September last the copy, with its annexes, of a letter from M. the
minister of the United States at Paris, relative to bargains entered
into by Messrs. Arman & Voruz for the construction and delivery
to the confederate government of several vessels armed for war.
In pointing out to my attention the gravity of this matter, which you
recommend in a manner altogether special to my examination, you
express the regret that my department had not thought proper to come
to an understanding with that of the foreign affairs before
answering the requests of Mr. Arman, who had obtained from the
marine the authorization to provide his vessels with twelve cannon
of 30.
As to that which concerns the authorization solicited by Mr. Arman,
and which was necessary to him by the terms of the ordinance of the
12th July, 1847, I did not believe I ought to refuse it in
consequence of the declaration of the constructor, who gave me the
assurance, as, moreover, his correspondence with my department
proves, that the vessels in construction in his work yards were
destined to do service in the China seas and the Pacific—between
China, Japan, and San Francisco. I could not, upon such a
declaration, and knowing, besides, that the vessels of commerce
which navigate the parts in question ought always to be furnished
with a certain armament, in view of the numerous pirates which
infest them, I could not, I say, answer negatively to the request of
Mr. Arman, nor refuse Mr. Voruz the faculty of manufacturing the
cannon destined to form this armament. This last authorization was
the consequence of that given to the constructor to provide his
vessels with artillery.
In granting to Mr. Voruz the permission to procure at Reuil the
elucidations necessary to the manufacture of his cannon, I followed
that which has always been done by my
department in analogous circumstances, commerce only
[Page 795]
exceptionally giving
itself to a manufacture which, in France, is almost never executed
hut by the state.
As to the regrets expressed by your excellency, that the department
of foreign affairs has not previously been consulted, I will cause
you to remark that it was a question of arms to be caused to be
manufactured by private industry, and not of material of war
appertaining to the state, and delivered by the magazines of the
state. This difference will not escape your excellency, and I would
not have failed to come to an understanding with you if there had
been asked of my department arms of the marine.
Upon the whole, my department has only conformed in this circumstance
to its precedents. It could only trust to the declaration of Messrs.
Arman & Voruz, and it could not be responsible for the unlawful
operations which might be undertaken. I am going, however, to call
forth from Messrs. Arman & Voruz explanations upon the facts of
which you have spoken to me, and you may rest assured, M. and dear
colleague, that the department of the marine will continue, as it
has done up to the present day, to do everything which shall be
necessary according to the wish of the Emperor, and conformably to
the declaration of his government, in order that the most strict
neutrality be observed in that which concerns the war which
desolates America at this moment, &c.
