I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your two despatches of May 8, Nos.
233 and 234, with the enclosures, which will receive the proper
attention.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. W. Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State, Washington.
[Translation.]
Mr. Cremers to Mr. Pike
Sir: By your official note of the 15th of
this month you nave requested in the name of your government, that
that of the Netherlands would withdraw from vessels bearing the flag
of the self-styled Confederate States certain privileges which had
previously been accorded to them; and, in the second place, you call
my attention to the proclamation of the President of the United
States, dated the 11th April last, claiming, in favor of vessels of
the republic, the same friendly treatment, and the same rights in
foreign ports, that your government is ready to accord to vessels of
all maritime nations.
In answer, I have the honor to bring to your knowledge that the
government of the Nether -lands, which has always followed with the
greatest interest the events which have occurred in America during
late years, felicitates itself on perceiving the approach of the end
of the terrible strife which has so long desolated the United
States, and on witnessing the arms of the federal government crowned
with success.
The motives which guided the cabinet of The Hague in recognizing, in
1861, in the secessionists the rights of belligerents, and which
have been developed in the communications from the department for
foreign affairs of the 17th September and 14th December, 1861, and
14th April, 1862, existing no longer now, I hasten to inform you,
sir, that the King’s government believes it can now withdraw the
aforesaid rights from said States, and that their armed vessels
shall cease from this time, by a consequence flowing out of this
fact, to be admitted into the ports of the Netherlands as soon as
the necessary instructions for this purpose can be transmitted to
the proper authorities by my colleague for the colonies.
[Page 393]
At the same time the government of the Netherlands, in acceding so
promptly to the desire manifested by that of the United States,
cherishes the hope that the cabinet at Washington will readily, so
far as relates to Netherlands merchant vessels, no longer exercise
the rights of war, such as those of search and of blockade.
In what relates to the second point mentioned in your official note,
I take the liberty, sir, to remind you that already, under date of
30th December, 1861, you were informed by the department for foreign
affairs that the anterior instructions relative to the admission of
the ships-of-war of the northern and the southern States into the
ports of the Netherlands had been modified in the sense, that
thenceforward those vessels might sojourn therein without limitation
of time and might load coal without limitation of quantity.
The restrictions elsewhere applied to the admission and sojourn of
American vessels-of-war in foreign ports, therefore, do not exist in
those of the Netherlands, and the views of the President in this
relation are accomplished.
Please accept, sir, the fresh assurances of my high
consideration.
Mr. Pike, Minister
Resident, &c.,&c.,&c.
