Office of the Historian

No. 102.
Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, February 13, 1873. (Received February 28.)
No. 769.]

Sir: On Sunday last I received a dispatch from Mr. George de Pardonnet, from Belfort, to the effect that he was an emigration agent for [Page 246] the State of Kansas, and that, having advertised a lecture at Belfort upon the subject of the advantages presented by that State to the emigrant, his lecture had been interdicted by the minister of the interior, and inquiring what he should do.

I telegraphed him that I would answer him by letter; and the next day I addressed him a letter, a copy of which I inclose herewith, and which will explain itself.

It seemed to me that this action of the French government, howsoever illiberal it might be toward us, was a matter of its own, with which we had no right to interfere. At any rate, as I suggested to Mr. Pardonnet, I thought it better to submit the matter to your judgment whether I should remonstrate with the French government in regard to its action in this respect, or whether you agree with the views which I expressed in my letter to Mr. Pardonnet.

I have, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Washburne to Mr. Pardonnet.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, February 10, 1873.

Sir: I have received your telegram of yesterday.

In reply, I desire to state that for the present there is nothing to be done but to submit to the order of the minister of the interior.

The action of the French government in this matter is nothing new. It has always discouraged emigration, and now that it is so anxious to retain its young men for the military service, it is especially jealous in this respect.

While I cannot doubt the right of the French government to pursue the course it has taken in this affair, I can only regret its action, and it is my purpose to bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Fish. Should he see fit to instruct me to take any action on the subject, I shall not fail to inform you of it. Without such instructions, knowing as I do the uniform action of the French government in this respect, I think it better for me not to interfere without official advice.

Very respectfully, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.