Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I

No. 460.
Mr. Coleman to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Berlin, June 18, 1888. (Received June 30.)

No. 628.]

Sir: I have had the honor to transmit to you with my dispatch No 627, of the 16th instant, the text of my telegram announcing the death of His Majesty, the Emperor Frederick, and of your telegram conveying the sympathy of the President and people of the United States for the German nation.

I now transmit herewith a copy of my note, under date of the 16th instant, addressed to Count Bismarck, in execution of your telegraphic instructions, and a copy and translation of an answering note of the same date, in which the Imperial secretary of state informs me that—

He has not failed to communicate to His Majesty, the ruling Emperor, the warm words in which were clothed the sentiments of the President and his Government for the Imperial family and the German people.

The touching incidents connected with the last illness of the late Emperor, his gentleness, fortitude, patience, and his zealous, unwearying performance of his sovereign duties during the protracted period of his suffering from a terrible incurable disease/had greatly moved the hearts of his subjects, in whose affections he already held an exalted place; and his death has caused profound regret and sorrow throughout the entire Empire.

In accordance with the expressed wish of the late Emperor and the widowed Empress, his body was, at an early hour this morning, laid to rest with all practicable quietness and avoidance of ceremony, and with a restricted attendance on account of the limited space afforded by the place of interment in the “Friedens” church at Potsdam.

I inclose for the files of the Department a number of journalistic publications bearing upon the life and death of his late Majesty, Frederick,

I have, etc.,

Chapman Coleman.

[lnclosure 1 in No. 628.]

Mr. Coleman to Count Bismarck.

Legation of the United States of America,
Berlin, June 16, 1888.

F. O. No. 370.]

The undersigned, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the United States of America, has the honor to state that he is instructed by the President of the United States to invoke the kind offices of his excellency Count von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, in conveying to His Majesty the Emperor and King the respectful sympathy felt throughout the United States for the Imperial family and the German nation in the loss of the late illustrious Emperor, who has at last yielded to death with such lofty courage and calm resignation to the divine decree.

The undersigned, while begging leave to express his sincere participation in this sentiment, avails., etc.,

Chapman Coleman.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 628.—Translation.]

Count Bismarck to Mr. Coleman.

Foreign Office, Berlin, June 16, 1888.

The undersigned has had the honor to receive the esteemed note of to-day, in which Mr. Coleman conveys the expression of the sympathy of the President of the United States and of the American people in the death of His Majesty the late Emperor Frederick.

The undersigned has not failed to communicate to His Majesty the ruling Emperor the warm words in which were clothed the sentiments of the President and his Government for the Imperial family and the German people.

While the undersigned at the same time permits himself to cordially thank the chargé d’affaires for the expression of his personal sentiments, he avails, etc.,

H. Bismarck.