No. 67.
Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
No. 269.]
Legation of the United
States, Paris, August 26, 1870. (Received September 8, 1870.)
Sir: We are still utterly in the dark here as
to war news, and the greatest uneasiness begins to prevail among the
Americans finding themselves at the present time in Paris. Large numbers
are leaving, not knowing what may take place. The proclamation of the
governor of Paris, only placarded last night, and which I send herewith,
has added to the excitement already existing. Our crowd of Germans had
considerably decreased yesterday, but it is largely increased to-day on
account of the proclamation of General Trochu.
I have not telegraphed you any news for several days, for I have had
nothing sufficiently reliable to justify it.
Useless Mouths.
governor of paris—general
order.
The governor of Paris, in consideration of the law of August 9, 1849,
on the state of siege; in consideration of the decree of the 7th
instant, by which Paris was declared in a state of siege; in
consideration of the seventy-fifth article of the decree of the 24th
December, 1811, relating to the organization and service of the
local staff, which decrees: That in every place, in a state of
siege, if the minister or the general of the army gives the orders,
or if the troops of the enemy approach within three days’ march of
the place, the governor or commanding officer is forthwith, and
without awaiting the state of siege, invested with the necessary
authority—
First. To cause the useless mouths, the strangers, and the persons
designated by the civil or military police, to leave. In
consideration of the law of the 9th July, 1852, relating to the
removal from the department of the Seine of persons who have
undergone judicial punishment, vagrants, beggars, and others
addicted to practices dangerous to person and to property—
Resolved, That, 1st. Every individual without
means of subsistence, whose presence at Paris would constitute a
danger to both the public order and the security of person and
property, or who would give himself to actions of such a nature as
to weaken or to trammel the measures for defense and for general
security, is expelled from the capital. 2d. The infraction of the
orders of expulsion shall be accused before the military
tribunals.
GENERAL TROCHU.
Paris,
August 24, 1870.
