Minister Wilson to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Brussels, February 25,
1906.
No. 66.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of department’s No. 45, of January 19, instructing me to secure
from the Belgian Government for Mr. Oscar Van der Meersch, emigration
agent for the State of South Carolina, such courteous facilitation for
the purposes of his mission as might be in accordance with the laws of
Belgium and due to the official agent of a constituent State of the
American Union.
I inclose herewith a copy of my note to the Belgian minister for foreign
affairs, sent conformably to the department’s instructions, and the copy
and translation of the reply thereto.
I have upon this date informed Mr. Van der Mersch of the action taken by
the Belgian Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 to dispatch No.
66.]
Mr. Wilson to
the Belgian Minister for Foreign
Affairs, February 8, 1906.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that Oscar Van Der Meersch is at present in Belgium
with a commission from the State of South Carolina, one of the
constitutent States of the American Union, as a special delegate of
the department of agriculture, commerce, and immigraion of said
State.
I am instructed by the Department of State at Washington to request
from your excellency’s Government such courteous facilitation of the
purposes of the mission of Mr. Van Der Meersch as may be in
accordance with the laws of Belgium.
Etc.,
[Inclosure 3 to dispatch No. 66.—Translation of inclosure No.
2.]
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the 8th, instant, by which
your excellency has kindly informed me that the department of
agriculture, commerce, and immigration of the State of South
Carolina has a special delegate in Belgium, to furnish information
to persons intending to emigrate to the said State.
My department has taken notice of this information, which it has
brought to the knowledge of the competent authorities with a view of
facilitating the mission intrusted to Mr. Van Der Meersch.
I believe it is useful, Mr. Minister, to annex to this note a copy of
a pamphlet containing the text of the laws and regulation in matter
of emigration now in force in Belgium.
Etc.,
[Circular.]
Department of State,
Washington, August 11,
1906.
To the diplomatic officers of the
United States in Europe.
Gentlemen: The department is advised by the
governor of South Carolina that Mr. E. J. Watson, the head of the
department of agriculture, commerce, and immigration of that State,
has been commissioned to proceed to Europe in the prosecution of the
work with which his department is charged by the state
legislature.
[Page 65]
Upon the arrival of Mr. Watson at the capital at which you reside you
will inform the Government to which you are accredited of his
employment and request for him such courteous facilitation of the
purpose of his mission as may be in accordance with its laws and due
to the official agent of a constitutent State of the American
Union.
I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
Alvey A. Adee, Acting Secretary.
