Mr. Seward to Mr. Hülsemann.
Washington, August 22, 1861.
The undersigned, the Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from Mr. Hülsemann, [Page 191] minister resident of his imperial royal Majesty the Emperor of Austria, bearing date 7th August, instant. Mr. Hülsemann’s letter is accompanied by an instruction sent to him by Count Rechberg, the Austrian minister for foreign affairs, calling for information on the subject of the views of this government concerning the rights of neutrals in maritime war. Count Rechberg expresses a hope that the government of the United States will give assurances that it adopts and will apply the 2d, 3d, and 4th principles of the declaration of Paris, viz:
- 2.
- The neutral flag covers enemy’s goods, with the exception of contraband of war.
- 3.
- Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy’s flag.
- 4.
- 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 undersigned has great pleasure in assuring Mr. Hülsemann that this government does adopt, and that it will apply the principles thus recited and set forth, and that its liberal views in this respect have not only been long held, but they would have been formally communicated to the Austrian government several months ago but for the delay which has unavoidably occurred in the arrival of a newly appointed minister plenipotentiary at Vienna.
Of course the principles referred to are understood by the United States as not compromitting their right to close any of their own ports for the purpose of suppressing the existing insurrection in certain of the States, either directly or in the more lenient and equitable form of blockade which has already for some time been established.
Mr. Motley, who proceeds immediately to Vienna as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States, will be directly advised of this communication, while he will be charged with more ample instructions on the general subject involved.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to tender assurances of the good will of this government towards the government of Austria, and of his distinguished consideration for Mr. Hülsemann personally.
The Chevalier Hulsemann, &c., &c., &c.,