No. 380.
Mr. Birney
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
The
Hague, September 30, 1879. (Received
October 13.)
No. 125.]
Sir: I have the honor to state that upon receiving
your No. 114, of date 9th August, relating to Mormon migration, I had an
interview with his excellency Baron van Lynden van Sandenburg, minister for
foreign affairs.
I explained to him the purport of your dispatch. He seemed interested in the
object proposed, and promised that his government would have done whatever
could be found practicable to prevent proselyting by Mormons among the
people of the Netherlands. He thought it might be difficult in many cases to
discover motives of immigrants, but said they could instruct officers at the
several ports of the country to make investigation.
The minister on the next day sent one of his secretaries to my bureau [Page 853] to obtain the law of Congress upon
the subject, manifesting an interest to be fully advised.
I then addressed to him the note hereto annexed. It was accompanied by a copy
of the major part of your dispatch; all indeed, except the instructions
addressed to me personally.
I have received the reply of the minister, a copy of which is herewith
inclosed, with a translation.
So far as I can learn, the agents of the Mormons have not made much effort
within the Netherlands during the last two years. They are more active in
Sweden, Norway, and in England.
I have, sir,
[Inclosure 1 in Mr. Birney’s No.
125.]
Mr. Birney to Baron
Van Lynden van
Sandenburg.
Legation of the United States,
The Hague, September 6,
1879.
Sir: My government instructs me to lay before
you a subject to which it attaches much importance. Its views are set
forth in the accompanying paper, which is an extract from a dispatch of
Hon. Mr. Evarts, Secretary of State, addressed to the undersigned.
I am requested to urge earnest attention to the subject-matter of this
communication, in the interest not merely of a faithful execution of the
laws of the United States, but of the peace, good order, and morality
which are cultivated and sought to be promoted by all civilized
countries.
I will be pleased to learn from you how far the United States may depend
upon the sympathy and co-operation of the government of His Majesty in
relation to the subject herein referred to.
Your excellency will please accept assurances of my high
consideration.
His Excellency Baron Van Lynden van
Sandenburg.
[Inclosure 2 in Mr. Birney’s No.
125.]
The
Hague, September 26,
1879.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have
hastened to communicate to the minister of marine, of commerce, and of
industries the note of your government, of which you have been so kind
as to send me an extract through your favor of the 6th of this month,
No. 3.
My colleague has, at my request, made known the contents of this document
to the commissioners authorized in different parts of the country to
watch over the passage and transport of the emigrants, inviting them to
kindly inform the Government of the King if they have been able to
discover that migration has taken place for the Territory of Utah from
the Netherlands; and whenever the case occurs to call the attention of
persons interested to the penalties imposed by American legislation
against polygamy in practice among the Mormons.
As soon as these steps shall have led to any result, I will not fail, Mr.
Minister, to revert to this subject; and, in awaiting, I seize the
occasion to reiterate to you the assurances of my high
consideration.
VAN LYNDEN VAN SANDENBURG.
Mr. Birney,
Minister
Resident of the United States of America.
