Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
No. 402.]
Legation of the United States,
Brussels
,
January 8, 1867.
Sir: The bonds of the United States are rapidly
increasing in favor here and throughout the continent, and are likely to
be eventually absorbed in Europe. They have been placed upon the
official stock list at Paris, and bankers who during the war insisted
that the debt could never be paid, now advertise cash payments of its
coupons.
There have been from an early period of the war large dealings here in
our securities, and one of the bankers of this city has lately applied
to me to ask this government to permit our bonds to be placed on the
official stock list.
This I have declined to do in a letter, copy of which I have the honor to
enclose herewith.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
Mr. Sanford to M. Oppenheim.
Legation of the United
States, Brussels
,
January 7,
1867.
Sir: I have received and am obliged to you
for your letter of 5th instant, suggesting, as a benefit to the
Belgian public, my application to this government to place the bonds
of the United States upon the official stock-list of the
exchange.
The debt created by my government during the late war is a domestic
one, was token entirely by our citizens; it has never sought to
place it in foreign markets; but, on the contrary, has declined
numerous offers of loan from abroad before the rebellion was
subdued. This policy, in my view, is still the true one, and I am
not now disposed to take any step tending to invite speculation or
investment in those bonds here.
Respectfully, yours,
M. Jacques Errera Oppenheim. Brussels.
