Mr. Runyon to Mr. Olney.
Berlin, December 18, 1895. (Received January 11, 1896.)
Sir: I have the honor to report that a few days ago I was apprised for the first time by persons acting in the interest of The New York Life Insurance Company that that company, a short time before the withdrawal of its concession, delivered to the proper Prussian authorities certain documents attesting to the soundness of the company and showing conformity (in accounting) on its part with the regulations of the Prussian Government, and that no reply thereto was received. In view of the declaration of the Imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs in his recent speech in the Imperial Parliament, a report of which, with translation, I had the honor to send to you some days ago (see Dispatch No. 422, of December 10, 1895), that if the American insurance companies are desirous of doing business in Prussia, all they have to do is to conform to the regulations, I immediately sent duplicates of the papers above mentioned to the foreign office, and soon after sought and obtained an interview with Baron von Marschall in reference to the matter. As to The New York Life Insurance Company, I received an assurance that the subject would be considered by the new Prussian minister of the interior in view of the papers above referred to.
I have, etc.,