No. 258.
Mr. White
to Mr. Evarts.
Berlin, January 5, 1880. (Received January 23.)
Sir: A day or two since I received a call from Baron George von Bunsen, member of the Imperial Diet, and a gentleman held in the very highest esteem throughout Germany, during which he pressed me very strongly to urge upon our government the importance of the International Fishery Exposition, to be held in Berlin in April of the present year. He laid before me statements which convince me that it will be an exceedingly interesting and valuable collection, and that a body of men will be brought together whose papers and discussions will considerably increase the practical knowledge of the best means of creating, improving, and maintaining fisheries in various parts of the world.
He said to me that all interested in the subject here were anxious, above all things, that our own country should take part in such an exposition, and that we now rank as the first as regards progress in this department. He thought what we could send from the Smithsonian Institution especially, under charge of Professor Baird, would be highly honorable to the country and of great benefit to the world at large, while we ourselves would receive in return very valuable information.
His main wish was that an effort be made to induce Congress to take the necessary steps to send Professor Baird, or other suitable person or persons, with such parts of our collections as shall be judged most proper to represent us in this respect.
I called his attention to the short time remaining to us, and told him that I feared it was too late to get the required action. He said that if the action were taken by the end of Februrary it would be ample time. To this I answered, that this was a very short time indeed in which to carry through a measure of this sort, but that I would lay the matter before you.
I have also the honor to inclose a letter from Mr. von Bunsen to Mr. Secretary Schurz on this subject, with his request that it be delivered to its proper address.
I should hesitate to bring to your notice a communication of this sort, were it not that Mr. von. Bunsen assures me that the foreign office will shortly forward a dispatch in addition to the one already sent to the German minister at Washington, and that an effort is being made to induce the chancellor, Prince Bismarck, to interest himself earnestly in the matter.
I have, &c.,