No. 277.
Mr. Pendleton to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Berlin, April 3, 1887.
(Received April 10.)
No. 410.]
Sir: Yesterday morning I received from the foreign
office a note, of which I send herewith a copy and translation. It informs
me that the Emperor, owing to ill health, will probably be prevented for
some time from granting audiences; that His Majesty regrets very sincerely
his inability to receive me in person for the purpose of the delivery of the
congratulatory letter of the President of the United States; and that he has
instructed Count Bismarck to express his thanks for the kind wishes of
President Cleveland and of the Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, and to
receive from my hands the original letter. Count Bismarck, therefore begs
that I may either deliver the President’s letter to him personally or convey
the same with a note, that it may be presented to His Majesty. I preferred
the latter course, and therefore prepared and sent last evening the note, of
which I also annex a copy, inclosing with it the original letter of the
President.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
410—Translation.]
Count Bismarck to
Mr. Pendleton.
Foreign
Office, Berlin, March 31,
1887.
The undersigned, has the honor to state in reply to the esteemed note of
the 26th instant, of the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. Pendleton, that His
Majesty the Emperor and King will, in consequence of his illness,
probably be prevented for some time to come from granting audiences.
His Majesty regrets very sincerely his inability to receive in person the
envoy for the purpose of the delivery of the congratulatory letter of
the President of the United States, and has instructed the undersigned
to express his thanks for the kind wishes of President Cleveland and of
the Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, and to receive the original letter
from the hands of the envoy.
The undersigned, therefore, begs that the letter referred to may be
either handed to him, or conveyed to him by means of a note, in order
that it may be presented to His Majesty, and avails himself, &c.
[Page 386]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 410.]
Mr. Pendleton to
Count Bismarck.
Legation of the United States,
Berlin, April 2,
1887.
The undersigned, envoy, etc., of the United States of America, has the
honor; in accordance with the permission granted by his excellency Count
Bismarck-Schönhausen, Imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs,
in his polite note of the 31st ultimo, received to-day, to hand herewith
to his excellency the letter of the President of the United States,
addressed to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, expressing the respectful
and cordial congratulations of the President on the happy completion by
His Majesty of the ninetieth year of his life, crowned with the
prosperity of his Empire and the affections of his people.
The undersigned can express but feebly the sentiments of regret and
sympathy which he is assured will fill the breast of the President when
he shall learn that ill health, which all good men hope may be merely a
passing indisposition, affects His Majesty, and will prevent an audience
in which the undersigned might place in the hands of the Emperor
personally this letter of the President, with the verbal assurance of
the profound respect and good will of the people and. Government of the
United States, which he was commissioned by the President to
communicate, and to explain the unfortunate contretemps of adverse winds and stormy seas, by which the
arrival of the President’s letter was delayed beyond the fête of His
Majesty’s birthday.
The undersigned gladly avails himself, &c.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 410.]
Grover Cleveland,
the President of the United States, to His Majesty William, Emperor of Germany.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 11,
1887.
Great and Good Friend: Accept, I pray you, my
sincere felicitations upon the attainment of your ninetieth year, in
peace and honor, in health and strength, with unclouded faculties to
perceive, a heart to enjoy the affection and respect of the people over
whom, in the providence of God, you have ruled so long and wisely.
I am confident that I truly reflect the sentiment of tens of thousands of
native Germans, who are now prosperous and happy citizens of this
Republic, when I express the hope that your life may be prolonged for
the welfare of your people and the peace of your Empire.
May God have your Majesty and your Majesty’s family in His wise
keeping.
Your good friend,
