No. 132.
Mr. Davis to Mr. Bancroft.
Sir: With reference to your dispatch of the 16th ultimo, No. 112, which presents a very lucid statement of your view of the relative positions of North Germany and France in the pending was, and especially to that part of your communication which relates to the exemption of the North German mail steamships from capture by French cruisers, I have to inform you that on the 16th ultimo the Secretary of State addressed a cable dispatch on this subject to Mr. E. B. Washburne, a copy of which and of his reply is inclosed. From that reply you will perceive that in the exercise of its rights as a belligerent the French government declines to exempt those steamships from capture except those then at sea ignorant of war which may enter a French port. This decision is much regretted by this government, which would be glad to avail itself of any peaceable means of inducing a reversal of it.
While upon the subject of the policy as a belligerent to which France has committed herself, I inclose a copy of a telegraphic dispatch of the 25th of July from Minister Washburne, and of a note of the same date from Mr. Berthemy, the minister of France here, together with a copy of a note from the latter of the 3d instant, and of my reply thereto.
[The several in closures referred to in this dispatch will be found under the head “France,” ante.]