Mr. Uhl to Mr. Olney.
Berlin , January 28, 1897 . (Received February 12.)
Sir: On the 24th instant, Sunday, I received your telegraphic instruction, as follows:
Uhl, Ambassador, Berlin:
New York Life Company is advised that Prussian council meets next week, and asks your offices to procure hearing before such council in behalf of American insurance companies. If the agents of the companies are prepared to go before such council in concert, with full statements and carefully prepared argument, you will use good unofficial offices to procure such hearing.
Olney.
On the following morning I sent for and had a conference with Mr. von Adelson, the local representative of the New York Life Insurance Company, and informed him of the instruction received. To my question whether he desired, on behalf of his company, to submit to the Prussian ministry of state any further showing, either in the form of statement or argument, he replied that he did not, that he had nothing additional to present, and did not desire a hearing for such purpose. He farther informed me that the companies in their presentation were not acting in concert, but that each company had presented its case on its individual merits. Of the result of this interview I advised you by telegraph as follows:
Olney, Secretary, Washington:
Adelson, representative New York Life here, informs me he has nothing more to present to Prussian ministry of state, either in the form of statement or argument.
Uhl.
During the past seven months I have had frequent interviews with the local representatives of the Mutual Life and New York Life insurance companies, and more than once, while the examination was proceeding before the ministry of the interior, asked such representatives whether their several companies wished to make any presentation beyond that already submitted, urging that if upon any point their cause could be supplemented or strengthened it should be done at once. In each instance their reply was that the case made was full and perfect, to which nothing could be added.
It thus appearing from my interview with Mr. von Adelson that there was no occasion to make application for a hearing as suggested before the Prussian ministry, the remaining question, i. e., whether such request would in any event be entertained, became unimportant. I understand, however, that without a doubt it would not be met with favor.
The Prussian ministry of state is composed at present of the following officials:
- His Highness Prince zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, chancellor of the [Page 205] Empire, president of the Prussian ministry of state, minister of foreign affairs, etc.
- His Excellency Dr. von Boetticher, vice-president of the ministry of state, imperial German secretary of state for home affairs, etc.
- His Excellency Dr. von Miquel, minister of finance.
- His Excellency Thielen, minister of public works.
- His Excellency Dr. Bosse, minister for spiritual, educational, and medicinal affairs.
- His Excellency Baron Marschall von Bieberstein, minister of state, actual privy councillor, imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs.
- His Excellency Baron von Hammerstein-Loxten, minister of agriculture, etc.
- His Excellency Schnöstedt, minister of justice.
- His Excellency Baron von der Recke von der Horst, minister of the interior.
- His Excellency Brefeld, minister of trade and commerce.
- His Excellency Lieutenant-General von Gossler, minister of war.
The deliberations of this collective body are not public. They are confidential and not disclosed. No oral arguments are permitted nor appearances granted to parties interested in questions pending before it. Hearings are not refused by the several members of the ministry, and they have been granted to myself, to the secretary of the embassy, and to the representatives of the companies in the matter of their pending applications whenever requested.
I have, etc.,