Mr. Runyon to Mr. Olney.

No. 273.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that immediately after receipt of your telegram of the 6th day of May last, stating that the State Department was informed that on April 27 the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York was notified to conform to certain stipulated Prussian methods within a fortnight on pain of cancellation of concession, and [Page 437] that it was represented that the company’s methods in Germany are unchanged since the concession was given, some nine years ago, that they are uniform as to the United States and all foreign countries, and that it is impossible to frame a special system for use in Prussia, and directing me to ascertain unofficially whether the German Government will further investigate the methods of American life insurance companies with a view of modifying the ultimatum, and in the meantime suspend its operation, I gave attention to the subject and was informed that an extension of time until the 15th day of July would be given to the company. It proved, however, that in some way there was said to be some misunderstanding on the subject, and that the Government officials thought the extension given was to the 15th day of June and not to the 15th of July. On being informed of this I at once had a personal interview with the minister on the subject and the result was that he gave me his consent that the matter should stand according to my understanding of it, that is, that the company should have the further time (till the 15th of July) applied for. That consent is in the form of a note from him to me. It therefore has not been necessary for me to take any action in accordance with the direction of the telegram of instruction of the 8th instant on the subject, the necessity therefor having been obviated by my action taken previously to the receipt thereof. The result has been communicated by me to the representative of the company here, and has been or will be communicated to him by the minister also.

I have, etc.,

Theodore Runyon
.