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

[Extract.]

Mr. Harrington to Mr. Seward.

No. 9.]

Legation of the United States, Berne, May 23, 1866.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of note bearing date the 16th instant, from his excellency Mr. Knüsel, the President of the Swiss Confederation, renewing, in the name of the high federal council, the invitation of the Swiss government to the United States to become a party to the convention concluded by the International Congress of Geneva, of August, 1864, for the amelioration of the sufferings of soldiers wounded on the field of battle.

A copy of their original invitation, bearing date the 16th November, 1864, as also copies of the proceedings of the congress, of the convention as proposed, and of the convention actually concluded and agreed upon, with other papers, were transmitted from this legation on the 26th of November, 1864, (despatch No. 76,) and on the 7th of February, 1865, (No. 81.)

It will be perceived, from the papers herewith, that, in addition to the governments represented at the congress of Geneva, the following have given their adherence to the convention, under the invitation extended to them by virtue of article 9, viz: Sweden, Greece, Great Britain, Mecklenburg Schwerin, and Turkey. Of all the principal powers, neither Russia nor Austria appear to have accepted the convention. * * * *

I have presumed that more authentic information than any I could give in relation to the threatened war would be communicated by our representatives near the several governments—parties principal to the impending conflict—and have therefore refrained from expressing what, at best, must be only deductions resulting from conversations with my colleagues.

Notwithstanding the members of the Swiss government, as well as the diplomatic corps generally, believe war to be inevitable, I have been reluctant to adopt that opinion in view of the exhausted financial condition of Austria and Italy. The Austrians have expressed themselves as anxiously fearful, the Italians as anxiously hopeful, of war; but war once declared, no one appears to have had the hardihood to predict results. Switzerland, having obtained from all the powers an acknowledgment of her neutrality, confines herself to measures necessary to prevent its infringement by any detachments of one army or the other.

A point of interest is the independent declaration of the several powers, coupled with the proviso of reciprocity, that private lawful commerce of the other belligerents shall be free from capture; and I have noticed, with some pride, that the admiral commander-in-chief of the Italian navy has selected the American-built iron-clad Ré d’ltalia as his flag-ship.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEORGE H. YEAMAN..

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

[Translation.]

Berne, May 16, 1866.

In the interest, strictly humanitarian, of mitigating as much as possible the evils of war, deliberations were bad at Geneva, in 1864, by delegates from a number of European and transatlantic states on the question of learning how the condition of wounded soldiers of armies actually in the field could be ameliorated in a lasting manner. As the final result of those deliberations we must regard the convention of Geneva, of April 22, 1864, which the Swiss federal council, to which the direction of affairs in relation to it had been confided, has had the honor to bring to the knowledge of the governments of the states interested therein, under date of November 14, 1864, while the greater portion of those states have since taken occasion to announce their adhesion, in the manner hoped for, to the convention above mentioned.

It would, however, be idle to dissemble the desire that the acceptance of the convention should be as general as possible, considering that it cannot be misunderstood as the expression of a grand reception, and that it appears also practicable in execution without any notable difficulty.

The federal council, therefore, believes that it satisfies its own want, as also that of committees existent in various countries for the progress of this philanthropic convention, in permitting itself respectfully to inquire if the minister of foreign affairs of the United States of America might not yet be induced to give a supplemental adherence to the convention of Geneva of August 22, 1864.

The federal council seizes with eagerness this occasion to renew to Mr. G. Harrington the assurances of its high consideration.

In the name of the federal council:

J. M. KNUSEL, President of the Confederation.

SCHIESS, Chancellor of the Confederation.