No. 104.
Mr. Washburne to Mr.
Fish
No. 358.]
Legation of the United States, Paris, February 4, 1871.
(Received February 23.)
Sir: In transmitting my correspondence with Count
Bismarck in relation to the dispatch-bag to you, one letter from me to him
was omitted, and I have the honor to inclose you herewith a copy thereof, to
be placed with the correspondence.
I have, &c.,
Mr. E. B. Washburne to Count de Bismarck
Legation of the United States,
Paris, January 2, 1871.
Sir: I beg leave to thank you for sending my
dispatch-bag at an earlier period than heretofore. I am enabled thus to
answer the dispatches of my Government to go out
[Page 296]
by the courier tomorrow morning, I should be very
glad if they could arrive in London by Friday, so as to go by the
Saturday steamer. I duly received the London journals, and it is
unnecessary to say that their contents have been most strictly guarded.
I think there must have been some misapprehension in London in regard to
my private letters. Mr. Moran, our chargé d’affaires, writes me that he
was not permitted to send me any letters, except from my wife, who is
now at Brussels. The consequence is that private letters to me from the
United States minister at Brussels; from my son, who is in college in
the United States; another son, who is at school in London, as well as a
great many letters from my personal and political friends at home, have
been detained, and are now at London. As the greater includes the less,
I suppose that, after you had kindly conceded to me the journals
containing military and political information, there would be no
objection to my receiving my private correspondence having probably no
reference to such matters, but if containing any information, it would
be equally guarded with information I obtain from the journals. If such
should be your understanding, I would be very glad if you would so
telegraph to London, so my letters can come to me by the bag which
leaves London next Friday. I should hope by the following Wednesday to
receive them.
I have the honor, &c.,
