Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1870

No. 86.

Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.

No. 295.]

Legation of the United States, Paris, September 21, 1870. (Received October 18.)

I have the honor to inclose you herewith a correspondence I have had with some German citizens of the United States, in relation to the protection afforded them by American passports, and which explains itself.

E. B. WASHBURNE.

Messrs. Hecht, Held and Kayser to Mr. E. B. Washburne.

Dieppe, August 29, 1870.

Dear Sir: Learning that a proclamation is issued by General Trochu expelling from Paris as well as from France, all persons of German birth, or born in such country, at present at war with France, we, the undersigned, naturalized citizens of the United States, of German birth, but duly furnished with a valid passport, beg your excellency to inform them whether the said proclamation applies to them or prevents their temporary sojourn here or in any other part of France.

Your kind reply, per return mail, will very much oblige and relieve your very obedient servants,

B. HECHT.

MARK HELD.

HENRY KAYSER.

Hon. E. B. Washburne, Minister of the United States to France.

P. S.—Please telegraph your reply to the undersigned, for which we beg you to find inclosed stamps.

B. HECHT, Hotel du Rhine, Dieppe.

Mr. E. B. Washburne to Messrs, Hecht, Held and Kayser.

Paris, August 31, 1870.

Gentlemen: I have this morning received your letter of the 29th instant.

I shall immediately telegraph you that the order of General Trochu does not include naturalized citizens of the United States of German birth. Such persons are citizens of the United States, and all proper protection will be extended to them, under all circumstances and at all hazards.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. B. WASHBURNE.

Messrs. Hecht, Held and Kayser, Dieppe, France.