No. 87.
meeting of the diplomatic corps.
A meeting of the diplomatic corps having been convoked by the Pope’s
nuncio the doyen of the corps, some
twenty-two members of the body met at 11 o’clock a. m., Friday,
September 23, 1870, at the residence of the nuncio, No. 102 St.
Dominique St. Germain, Paris.
The nuncio stated his reasons for convoking the body. Their present
position as diplomatic representatives was comparatively a useless
one, as their communications were now cut off with their various
governments. He considered it proper that they should consult
together and decide—
First. Whether the time had come when it was proper for them to leave
Paris.
Secondly. Whether they would act together, or act separately.
Thirdly. If it should be decided not to leave at the present time,
that it should be determined what steps were to be taken to send and
receive dispatches through the military lines.
The nuncio thought the time had not yet arrived for the corps to
leave. He thought it best for the members to act collectively, and
he hoped measures would be taken so that they could communicate with
their governments. He concluded by asking a general expression of
opinion.
Mr. Kern, the Swiss minister, expressed a decided opinion that it was
not proper for the body to leave now. The time for leaving would be,
according to diplomatic usage, when the notice of bombardment had
been received. He had thought strange of certain members of the
corps leaving without notice or consultation with their colleagues.
He thought it was more dignified to remain and act collectively. He
washed the nuncio to take upon himself to communicate with the
minister of foreign affairs and obtain all information possible in
relation to communicating through the military lines, and to arrange
for egress, if it should become necessary, of the diplomatic
corps.
After a few observations of Baron de Zuylen de Nyevelt, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Holland, and by Baron
Beyers, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Belgium,
Mr. Washburne remarked that he fully agreed with the opinions
expressed by his colleagues who had spoken. He was obliged to the
nuncio, who had taken the trouble to convoke the body, for, in the
circumstances that existed, he considered it important that they
should act in concert. He did not consider that the time had come
for the diplomatic corps to leave, for he thought they should stay
as long as possible, not only for the dignity of their own
governments, but for the protection of such of their countrymen as
might yet be in Paris. For himself, he wished to give to the
government of the national defense such consideration as was due to
it as a government recognized by the United States. He thought steps
should be taken immediately to open communication through the lines
for the dispatches of the diplomatic body, and that as soon as
anything was accomplished, another meeting should be convoked. It
would be unnecessary at the present meeting to take any steps in
relation to going out of the city, as the emergency had not arisen
to render it necessary to go.
After further and informal expression of opinions, the nuncio
consented to accept the mission confided to him, and he would
reconvene the body at an early day to report as to what had been
done.
The meeting then separated.
