No. 86.
Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, October 11, 1876.
(Received October 26,)
No. 1381.]Sir: On the 5th instant the members of the Chamber
of Commerce of La Rochelle addressed to me a communication pointing out the
inconvenience which will arise for the dealers in spirits in that port from
the suppression of the United States consulate there, and requesting me to
urge their case before my government.
It is impossible for me to comply with the request of the petition to urge
the re-establishment of the consulate at La Rochelle. I do not think there
is the least necessity for a consul there, and in my judgment Congress acted
wisely in abolishing the consulate there and at Nantes. It is possible that
it would be well enough to have a consular agent at La Rochelle, attached to
the Bordeaux consulate, but of that I am not in a position to speak
positively.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
La
Rochelle, October 5,
1876.
The members composing the Chamber of
Commerce of La Rochelle
to the United States Minister at
Paris:
Mr. Minister: The Chamber of Commerce of La
Rochelle has learned through the papers that the United States consulate
established at La Rochelle was to be transferred to Cognac.
The chamber comes to express to you how deeply it would regret such a
measure, if in reality it is to be taken.
We admit that since a few years the American ships have not often visited
the port of La Rochelle, but the very important commerce of brandy which
is carried on between the United States and the localities situated
within the limits of action of this chamber would suffer a great deal
from the inconvenience and loss of time following the obligation of
calling at Cognac, at twenty-five leagues from here, to get the required
certificates which are to accompany the numerous shipments of spirits
made from La Rochelle to Bordeaux and from thence to the United
States.
The Chamber of Commerce of this port ventures to hope that after having
pointed out to you the inconvenience of the suppression of the consulate
of La Rochelle, you will consent to employ the legitimate influence you
have acquired to induce your government to maintain that consulate.
We have the honor to be, &c., the members of the Chamber of
Commerce.
(Here follow signatures.)
