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

Correspondence between the Department of State and the French legation in Washington.

No. 98.

Mr. Berthemy to Mr. Davis.

Legation of France at the United States, Washington, August 3, 1870. (Received August 3, 1870.)

Sir: According to the instructions of my government, I have the honor to communicate to you the text herewith inclosed of the declaration made the 20th of July last to the senate and the legislative body by the minister for foreign affairs of the Emperor.

Deign accept, sir, the assurances of my high esteem.

BERTHEMY.

Hon. Bancroft Davis, Acting Secretary of State.

Declaration made to the senate and to the legislative body in the session of the 20th July, 1870.

Monsieurs: The statement which has been presented to you in the session of the 15th has made the senate and the legislative body acquainted with the just causes of war that we have against Prussia. Conforming to the usual rules, and by the order of the Emperor, I instructed the charge d’affaires of France to notify the cabinet of Berlin of our resolution to prosecute with arms the guarantees which we could not obtain by discussion. This course has been adopted, and I have the honor to inform the senate and the legislative body that in consequence of it war exists, since the 19th of July, between France and Prussia.

This declaration applies likewise to the allies of Prussia who aid her against us with arms.