No. 146.
Mr. Schlözer to Mr. Fish.
Highly Esteemed Sir: On the 28th ultimo I had the honor to inform you that my government had adopted no measures for the prevention or prohibition of emigration to the United States.
You thereupon had the kindness on the 2d instant to apprise me of the information which, in view of my communication, you had furnished to the press of this country.
While I offer you, highly esteemed Mr. Secretary of State, my warmest thanks for this manifestation of friendship, I take the liberty of making at the same time the following very respectful remark:
According to the newspapers, the Prussian government has ordered that emigrants shall in future not be transported at reduced rates upon our railways.
This order is an apparent contradiction of my communication of the 28th ultimo. It is explained as follows:
There was a time when the population of Germany had attained such [Page 196] proportions numerically that the government found itself obliged to favor emigration in every way.
It was ordered at that time that emigrants should receive railway transportation at lower rates than other travelers.
Two great wars have meanwhile had their unavoidable effect upon the population of Germany, and emigration, which deprives the country of its laboring force, and the army of its material, can no longer appear desirable, and can, therefore, no longer be encouraged, as it formerly was, by the government.
There is, however, I think, an evident difference between the discontinuance of a temporary encouragement of emigration and a direct prohibition or prevention of the same.
I have been induced to make this statement by a desire to prevent any misunderstanding which might arise.
Accept, &e.