Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1870

No. 117.

Mr. Davis to Mr. Read.

No. 69.]

Department of State, Washington, October 4, 1870.

Sir: Your No. 63 is received. While approving generally your energy and zeal in preparing protection for your countrymen and countrywomen the Department would caution you to do nothing that can be construed by the French government as an infringement upon, or an unauthorized extension of the provisions of the consular convention of 1853. It is, to say the least, doubtful whether, the right to establish agencies, (or branches,) conferred by Article V, should be construed as conferring the right to establish several offices in the same city, and it is certain, that, under our laws, Mr. Olcott is not a vice-consul with operative functions while you are in Paris.

The Department advises you to communicate freely with Mr. Washburne on these subjects, and to so act as not to bring us in conflict with the French, or with the Prussians should they occupy Paris.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

J. C. B. DAVIS, Assistant Secretary.

John Meredith Read, Jr., Esq., U. S. Consul General, Paris.