Mr. Jones to Mr. Seward .

No. 22.]

Sir: A few days since Count Rechberg, the imperial royal minister of foreign affairs, was interrogated in the house of deputies of the Austrian empire on the subject of the course pursued, or about to be pursued, by the imperial royal government in relation to American affairs in the present complication. The report of his remarks is as follows:

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Count Rechberg rose to answer the question, “What measures has the government taken to protect its commercial relations with the United States of North America, under the warlike condition of things, now existing there,” put by Mr. Putzer and his associates. He said: “The minister of foreign affairs has, in connexion with the ministers of trade and the navy, caused information to be obtained through the imperial minister resident at Washington as to the measures which other governments have taken for the, same reason. The answer received was, that England and France, as well as Holland, had strengthened their squadrons in the American waters, and had endeavored to bring the belligerent powers to the recognition of those principles, especially relating to the protection of private property, which were agreed upon at the congress of Paris in 1856. The imperial government has, for the present, abstained from sending ships-of-war, and has directed the minister resident to obtain from the belligerent powers the recognition of the following points established by the said congress:

  • “1. The neutral flag covers enemy’s goods, with the exception of contraband of war.
  • “2. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy’s flag.
  • “3. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective; that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy.

“The government hopes, on account of the friendly relations which have existed between it and the American States for years, to obtain the recognition of these three points on the part of the belligerents.”

In an interview with Count Rechberg a day or two ago, he expressed to me a hope that the answer might be deemed satisfactory to my government, as it was his wish to make it so. I replied that, so far as I was advised, no exception could be taken to his language, but that I should transmit to my government both the question and answer, and if they had anything to say they would make it known to him through their minister here. He repeated his strong desire to see the integrity of the Union preserved in America, and said Austria was anxious to cultivate the most friendly relations with us, and would be the last to aid or abet any movement looking to the disruption of our confederacy, or weakening its power.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. GLANCY JONES.

Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington.