Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1886

No. 30.
Mr. Bayard to M. de Bounder de Melsbroeck.

Department of State,
Washington, June 10, 1886.

Sir: In further reply to your note of April 5 last, asking whether there are laws of the United States which authorize the prosecution of persons who incite seamen to desert from Belgian vessels in the ports of this country, and who clandestinely harbor such seaman after desertion, I have the honor to inform you that I have just received a communication from the Treasury Department, to which your inquiry was referred, inclosing a copy of a letter from the United States shipping commissioner at New York.

From this letter, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, it appears that there are no United States laws punishing those engaged in aiding or abetting desertion from foreign vessels in the ports of this country.

Accept, sir, &c.,

T. F. BAYARD.