Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward

No. 247.]

Legation of the United States, Brussels, March 14, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith, from the Moniteur, the text for a convention ratified by this government on the 14th November last, entered into by Belgium, Baden, Denmark, Spain, France, Hesse, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Prussia, Switzerland, and Wurtemberg, for ameliorating the condition of soldiers wounded in armies in campaign, and by which military ambulances and hospitals are, together with their attendants, recognized as neutrals.

The various provisions for mitigating, so far as is consistent with the rules of warfare, its rigors, will be read with interest.

This convention, signed at Berne the 22d of August last, only appeared in the Moniteur of 8th January, and was at the time mislaid, or it would have been forwarded to you more promptly.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

H. S. SANFORD.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.