Office of the Historian

No. 461.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Pendleton.

Department of State,
Washington, June 19, 1888.
No. 329.]

Sir: In the session of the 15th instant, and on motion of Mr. McCreary, of Kentucky, the House of Representatives agreed to a resolution expressing profound sorrow for the death of the Emperor Frederick III and sympathy with the German nation in the loss of their great and renowned ruler.

This resolution contained no request or direction as to its communication to the Government of Germany, but appeared simply as an expressive tribute to the memory of one whose heroic endurance and admirable bearing amid sufferings and in the very article of death has endeared his memory to the hearts of all men.

The German minister at this capital, Count von Arco-Valley, hastened to communicate the text of this resolution to his Government as soon as it was made public, and has since addressed me a note* requesting me to convey to the House of Representatives the thanks which His Majesty the Emperor has instructed him to express for this manifestation of regard. I have accordingly addressed the Speaker of the House communicating the desired message.

I transmit an engrossed copy of the resolution, which you may deliver to his excellency the Imperial minister for foreign affairs.

Expressing much gratification at the cordial response vouchsafed to this spontaneous tribute of the popular branch of the national legislature to the worth of the lamented sovereign,

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.
[Inclosure in No. 329.]

resolution of the house of representatives.

June 15, 1888.

[Fiftieth Congress, first session.]

Mr. McCreary, of Kentucky, submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:

Resolved by the Rouse of Representatives of the United States of America, That we have heard with profound sorrow of the death of the Emperor Frederick of Germany. He was distinguished as a soldier, having been made a field marshal for his conspicuous services in the Austro-Prussiau and Franco-Prussian wars, and he was the friend and advocate of a conservative and liberal policy in Germany, and we express our respectful sympathy to the German nation in the loss of their great and renowned ruler.

Attest:
Jno. B. Clark, Clerk.
  1. For note of German minister of June 18, see Doc, No. 495, post, page 682.↩