No. 53.
The French government having notified this legation that the Emperor had
decided that the consular agents of the North German Confederation in
France must cease to exercise their official functions, and it having
advised me that it had instructed the prefects of the different
departments that the interests of the subjects of the confederation, who
should continue to reside in France, were, during the war, confided to
the consular agents of the United States, I have thought proper to issue
a circular to our consular agents, a copy of which I have the honor to
inclose. It is issued as an answer to many inquiries on this subject,
addressed to me by our consuls.
[Circular.]
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, July 28, 1870.
Sir: The legation of the United States in
France, acting under the authority of the State Department, and with
the assent of the French government, has taken under its protection
all subjects of the North German Confederation residing in French
territory. The States of Saxony, Hesse Grand-Ducale, and
Saxe-Coberg-Gotha, are included.
The government of his Majesty the Emperor, in notifying to this
legation that the Emperor had decided that the consular agents of
the North German Confederation in France must cease to exercise
their functions, added it had informed the prefects of the different
departments that the interests of the subjects of the confederation,
who should continue to reside in France, were confided, during the
war, to the consular agents of the United States.
[Page 84]
Under these circumstances Mr. Washburne desires to state, that it
will be your duty to give every proper assistance, consistent with
the functions with which you have been charged, and the proper
discharge of your own duties, to North German subjects.
If the business of any consulate of the North German Confederation
should require it, a clerk should be furnished you to perform the
clerical duties, under your direction. The form of your signature to
any certificate should be as follows:
Le consul des États-Unis d’Amérique, charge des affaires des sujets
de la Confédération de l’Allemagne du Nord à.
(Signature.)
If you are requested so to do, you will take charge of the archives
of the consulate of the North German Confederation, and give the
clerk a seat in your office.
As regards passports and visas, the French government has decided
that it will not authorize the departure from French territory of
such subjects of the North German Confederation as owe military
service to their government.
As to those cases where such liability is alleged not to exist, they
will be examined separately, under such regulations as may hereafter
be made known. It would not be well, therefore, to give any subject
of the North German Confederation any passport, or any certificate
in the nature of a visa, until you shall receive some specific
instructions in this respect.
WICKHAM HOFFMAN, Secretary of
Legation.
