No. 598.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Evarts.
Berne, October 21, 1879. (Received November 7.)
Sir: Referring to my No. 213, arid to your instructions, No. 107, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note which I addressed to Mr. Hammer, President of the confederation, respecting Mormon emigration to the United States.*
Although my note is dated the 17th instant, I was unable until to-day to find the President to speak to him with reference to this subject.
I had learned from Mr. Doerr that he had received the instruction referred [Page 952] to in your No. 107, and from that fact thought it expedient to present my note, which I accompanied with a German translation.
In our interview I found the President well disposed to do all in his power to assist us in our endeavors to suppress the emigration of recruits for the polygamous community in Utah, but I doubt whether, under existing legislation, much eta be done beyond a publication in the Feuille Fédérate and the public press in this direction. This the President said would be cheerfully accorded.
I shall keep you informed of the position of the Swiss press on this question, and with this view shall communicate a translation of my note to the consular officers with a request that they should further its promulgation and likewise report any discussion it may create in the newspapers.
I have, &c.,
- For the substance of Mr. Fish’s representations see the Department’s circular instruction of August 9, 1879. (Foreign Relations, 1879, page 11.)↩