No. 165.
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish.
No. 143.]
American Legation, Berlin, September 29, 1870. (Received October
14.)
Sir: In pursuance of your instruction of August
30 (No. 128) I addressed to the secretary for foreign affairs a request
that measures might be taken for the protection of the large amount of
American property in Paris upon its occupation by the German troops.
I append a translation of the reply of Mr. von Thiele conveying the
desired assurances.
[Translation.]
Mr. von Thile to Mr. Bancroft.
Berlin,
September 28, 1870.
The envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America was pleased in his communication of the 15th
instant to draw attention to the fact that there is in Paris a large
amount of American property. To this notification was added the
suggestion that measures might be taken for the protection of this
property during the occupation of the French capital by German
troops. The undersigned
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may be permitted to mention in reply hereto that German troops
respect always private property so far as the necessities of war at
all admit. Even under the difficult circumstances which may perhaps
occur in Paris, all that is possible will willingly be done by the
authorities of this government to guard from injury American
property.
But it is desirable that the American citizens should themselves also
take, on their part, those measures for the security of their
property which other inhabitants of besieged towns take, i.
e., avoid as far as possible the risk of
loss.
