Office of the Historian

No. 94.

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

No. 308.]
Legation of the United States, Paris, October 24, 1870. (Received November 15, 1870.)

Sir: Referring to my dispatch of the 18th instant, and numbered 305, I have the honor to state that I have this day received from the government of the national defense the permission for my countrymen to leave Paris. They are to leave, therefore, on Thursday morning next, by the way of Créteil.

It had been twice decided that at this state of the siege no foreigner would be permitted to leave Paris, but after having several interviews on the subject with General Trochu and Mr. Jules Favre, they finally agreed to change their determination, and let all of our Americans go who wanted to leave. I think this decision is mainly due to a friendly feeling toward our Government. From the beginning, Mr. Jules Favre evinced every desire to gratify my wishes in this regard. The granting of the permission for the Americans to leave involved a like permission for the subjects of other neutral powers; and as the Prussian authorities require that I shall give a pass to every person who desires to traverse their military lines, I am likely to have a good deal of work on hand for the next two days. I have had prepared a special passport for this purpose, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith.

* * * * * * * * *

E. B. WASHBURNE.

[Translation.]

Legation of the United States of America in France.

The bearer, —— ——, a citizen of the United States, haying expressed to me a desire to leave Paris and to pass the military lines of the powers at war with France, I hereby request the military authorities aforenamed to allow —— —— to pass their lines freely with —— carriage, baggage, &c., and to give aid and protection in case of need.

In testimony whereof we, E. B. Washburne, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States in France, have hereunto affixed our signature and the seal of this legation, this —— day of ——, 1870.[l. s.]

departure through the créteil gate.

The undersigned, whose name is in the passport on the opposite page, admits that he —— been notified by the aforesaid minister of the United States, that he can be the bearer of no newspaper, letter, or package, except personal baggage, under penalty of military law.

Paris,the —— October, 1870.