Mr. Storer to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Brussels, January 5,
1898.
No. 75.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have
just received the answer of the Belgian Government, transmitted through
the minister of foreign affairs, to my letter of November 29, a copy of
which has been transmitted to the Department with my dispatch No. 59, on
the subject of the unauthorized use in Belgium of the American flag for
advertising purposes.
I transmit herewith a copy and translation of the letter of the minister
of foreign affairs.
I venture to suggest that if the various consular officers were ordered
to inform all those persons in their several districts thus making use
of the flag of the opinion of the Belgian minister of justice and their
liability to legal proceedings in this country it might in most
instances answer the practical purpose desired.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in dispatch No.
75.]
M. de Favereau to
Mr. Storer.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels, January 4,
1898.
I have not failed to bring to the attention of the minister of
justice the letter that your excellency was kind enough to address
me on the date of November 29 last on the subject of the use made in
Belgium for advertising purposes of the American national flag.
My colleague has written me that the circumstances stated by your
excellency do not fall within the provisions of any of our penal
laws, but that the American Government could bring before the civil
courts the persons who, without its consent, have made use of the
flag of the United States, to which it (the Government) has an
exclusive right, and this in order to obtain damages for such
occurrences in the past, as well as with the intention of having
them enjoined, by the same decree, from repeating this use in the
future.
In placing the information above stated at the service of your
excellency, I take, etc.,
