No. 26.
Mr. Jay
to Mr. Fish
American
Legation,
Vienna, January 13,
1872. (Received Februarys.)
No. 402.]
Sir: I advised you by my dispatch No. 398, of
the 1st January, of a remark made to me by the Emperor, expressing his
hope that the United States would be represented at the Grand Exposition
at Vienna, to be opened in 1873, and of my reply, that I hoped Congress
would ‘make an appropriation for the purpose.
A reply, which I should have added, was induced by a statement in the
Vienna papers, which appeared to come from an official source, that you
had assured his excellency the Baron Lederer that you would recommend
the exhibition to the favorable attention of Congress.
I have since received from the Count Andrassy a courteous note,
expressing the great pleasure with which the imperial and royal
government had learned from their legation at Washington how friendly an
interest was cherished by the Government of the United States in the
success of their great patriotic work, the Universal Exhibition at
Vienna.
A translation of this note, with, my reply, are hereto appended,
(Appendices I and IL)
I am inclined to regard the project as one not only of importance to
Austria-Hungary, in a political as well as an industrial point of view,
but as one of no little interest to the United States in the opportunity
it will afford, for the first time, of introducing American manufactures
to the people of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and of opening new
markets which may prove of value.
* * * * * *
I have, &c,
[Page 47]
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]
The Count Andrassy to Mr. Jay.
The minister for foreign affairs has, from a report of the
Austro-Hungarian legation in Washington, observed with great
pleasure how friendly an interest is cherished by the Government of
the United States of America in the success of our great patriotic
work, the Vienna World Exposition.
Inasmuch as it has not failed to impress me that these
favorably-disposed feelings are chiefly to be ascribed to the active
co-operation manifested by the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary, John Jay, in behalf of the enterprise, the
undersigned, minister of the Imperial house and for foreign affairs,
has the honor to express the most sincere thanks of the imperial and
royal government, and solicits that his favorably-disposed support
may continue.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the envoy
the assurance of his distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Jay to the
minister of the imperial house and for
foreign affairs.
American Legation,
Vienna, January 9,
1872.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America, has the honor to acknowledge the most
courteous note (45/H. P., 7th January) of his excellency the Count
Andrassy, minister of the imperial house and of foreign affairs.
In this note his excellency expresses the great pleasure with which
the imperial royal ministry for foreign affairs has learned, from a
report of the Austro-Hungarian legation at Washington, of the
friendly interest cherished by the Government of the United States
of America in the success of that great patriotic work, the
Universal Exposition at Vienna.
His excellency kindly ascribing this favorable feeling on the part of
the American Government in large measure to the co-operation of
their envoy at Vienna, has done the undersigned the great honor of
expressing to him the thanks of the imperial royal government, and
of asking for his continued co operation.
If the undersigned is unable to accept the credit so generally
ascribed to him, a credit which properly belongs to the
Austro-Hungarian envoy at Washington, he may say with truth that his
excellency has rightly appreciated the interest with which he has
watched the admirable organization of a work which promises so much
for science and for art, for peaceful civilization, and popular
progress, and whose beneficial influence will be shared not only by
the people of Austria-Hungary, but by the world at large.
The undersigned begs leave to assure his excellency that it will
always afford hint the sincerest pleasure to do whatever lies in his
power to accomplish, in this regard, the favoring wishes of the
President, whose friendly interest in the success of the Exposition
has been so cordially expressed to the envoy of the imperial and
royal government.
The undersigned, &c,
