Office of the Historian

No. 144.
Mr. Schlözer to Mr. Fish.

Imperial German Legation, Washington, October 28, 1872. (Received Oct. 29.)

Esteemed Sir: A statement was published in July last by the American press to the effect that the German government was seeking to prevent emigration to the United States, and had adopted stringent measures for this purpose.

These measures were entirely unknown to me.

As, however, the report continued in circulation, I addressed Prince Bismarck, asking for information in regard to the matter.

I have this day received a dispatch from the chancellor of the Empire, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose. According to this dispatch no measures have been taken to lay any obstacles in the way of emigration, and the statements published by the press were totally unfounded.

In the interest of the friendly relations which exist between the Government of the United States and that of Germany, I have deemed it my duty to bring the above to your notice. Should you think proper to contradict those false reports, and to furnish information to the press on the subject, I should be very much obliged to you.

Accept, sir, the renewed assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

SCHLÖZER.
[Page 195]

Mr. Delbriick to Mr. Schlözer.

Office of the Chancellor of the Empire,
Berlin, October 12, 1872.

In reply to your dispatch of the 27th of September last, I have to say that the government of the German Empire has issued no orders interfering with or forbidding the emigration of Germans to the United States of America. Neither, so far as is known, has the government of any state belonging to the empire adopted any measure of this kind.

The reports on this subject which may be circulated by the American press are therefore to be characterized as entirely without foundation.

I request you to contradict, emphatically, all such reports in such manner as you may think most proper.

For the chancellor,
DELBRÜCK.

The Imperial German Minister, Baron Von Schlözer,
Washington.