[With five enclosures.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 116.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
June 9, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a
communication from the minister of foreign affairs, of which enclosure
No. 1 is a copy and enclosure No. 2 a translation, announcing the
measures taken by this government in execution of its intention to
withdraw from the so-called Confederate States of America the quality of
belligerents accorded to them by the declaration of June, 1861.
In connexion with this subject, I invite your attention to a paragraph
from the bulletin of the Moniteur of the 8th instant, of which enclosure
No. 3 is a copy.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
P. S. 2 p. m.—Since writing the foregoing I have received a note from
his excellency the minister of foreign affairs, of which the
following is an extract:
[Translation.]
“I send you annexed a copy of instructions from the minister of
marine, which you may send to your government.
“Wholly yours, DROUYN DE LHUYS.”
The annexed enclosure No. 4 is a copy of these instructions, and No.
5 is a translation.
Yours, very respectfully;
[Page 325]
[Enclosure No. 2.—Translation of No.
1.]
Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow.
Sir: I have had the honor to inform you,
under date of May 31, that after the communication which you had the
kindness to address to me on the 29th, we had no longer any
objection to withdrawing the quality of belligerents from the
confederates. We have had to consider since then the bearing of this
resolution with regard to their war-ships. I deem it my duty now to
inform you of the measures taken by us to insure the efficient and
equitable carrying out of that resolution.
M. the minister of manne, under date of the 5th instant, announced to
the competent authorities in the ports of the empire and of its
colonies that the southern States no longer presenting, in our
opinion, the character of belligerents, their flag could no more be
unfurled or recognized in French waters. Consequently, no vessel
bearing that flag can henceforth, be permitted to enter them, and it
will be necessary to demand the immediate departure of all
confederate war-vessels which may yet be staying in our ports in
consequence of our declaration of neutrality, as soon as the
instructions of M. the minister of marine reach there. It is just,
however, that these vessels should not be deprived of the benefit of
the regulation in force at the time of their arrival in case a
United States ship had been simultaneously admitted into port.
Hence, for the last time, an interval of twenty-four hours should
elapse between the departure of the confederate and that of the
United States ship which should chance be together in the same
French port.
Accept assurances of the high consideration with which I have the
honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,
Mr. Bigelow,
Minister of the United States at
Paris.
[Enclosure No. 3.— Translation.]
[From the Moniteur of June 8, 1865.]
The Evening Moniteur, in its weekly summary of foreign policy,
announces that the resolution by which the French government revoked
the order in virtue whereof the stay of federal vessels-of-war was
limited to twenty-four hours, save in case of stress, has been made
effective by the definitive withdrawal of the declaration of
neutrality of June, 1861. The imperial government, as soon as it bad
learned the capitulation of the principal southern armies, had
manifested its intention to withdraw that declaration; but, before
yielding to its inclination, it had to assure itself that neutral
vessels would cease to be visited by the United States navy. In
fact, neutrality could not be renounced if the usage of the laws of
war against foreign commerce was continued.
On its side, the London Gazette has published a letter, addressed by
Earl Russell to the lords of the admiralty, to announce to them that
the English government, in consequence of the re-establishment of
peace throughout the territory in possession of North America before
the commencement of the war, no longer recognizes the character of
belligerents in the confederates. The various authorities of her
Majesty in all the ports, roadsteads and waters belonging to her,
either within the United Kingdom or beyond sea, are instructed to
refuse entry into port to any vessel-of-war under the confederate
flag, and not any longer to suffer the presence of those which
should happen to be there at the time of this declaration.
[Enclosure No. 5.—Translation of No. 4.]
Instructions from the Minister of
Marine.
Sir: In proclaiming by its declaration of
June 10, 1861, the rules of neutrality which it meant to observe
between the belligerents of che divers States of North America, the
government of the Emperor recognized a pre-existing fact, namely,
that of a struggle going on between two portions of the territory of
the United States; a struggle in which both sides observed the rules
of war, as well in their treatment and exchange of prisoners as in
the rights exercised towards neutral vessels.
Now, after the events which have occurred, the position is entirely
changed. The minis ter of the United States near the government of
the Emperor has stated that the cabinet at Washington consider the
war ended, and abandon all pretension to the right of searching
neutral vessels as practiced during war.
[Page 326]
Under these circumstances the government of the Emperor does not
consider it its duty any longer to recognize belligerents in the
States of North America. In consequence, ships presenting themselves
as confederate vessels can no longer be received in the continental
or colonial ports, nor in the territorial waters of the empire; and
the confederate flag can no longer be unfurled in our ports.
Such of these vessels as may happen to be in our ports when the
present despatch reaches you, shall have to leave; but with regard
to them, you will, for the last time, observe the rule repeated in
my circular of February 5, 1864, according to which an interval of
twenty-four hours at least shall elapse between the departure of any
vessel-of-war of one belligerent and the departure of any
vessel-of-war of the other.
