Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874

No. 417.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Bingham.

Department of State,
Washington, January 8, 1874.

No. 19.]

Sir: Your dispatch of the 18th of November, No. 18, has been received.

In answer to the inquiry made therein as to whether it is desirable to press the payment of the unpaid balance of the Simonoseki indemnity, I have to state that a bill to release said payment passed one House but failed in the other. The Department must regard this as a refusal by Congress to release. But it is not thought best to unduly press the claim.

I am, &c.,

HAMILTON FISH.