Mr. Fish to Mr. E. B. Washburne. [By cable.] WASHBURNE, Paris: WASHINGTON, July 17, 1870. Government and people of the United States depend upon German steamers between Bremen, Hamburg, and New York for postal communication with Europe, under arrangements with the United States Post Office. Inquire whether, in the event of war with North Germany, these steamers will be exempt from capture. Report by cable. FISH. No. 231.]. No. 48. Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, July 22, 1870. (Received Aug. 3.) Count Solms, chargè d'affaires of the North German Confederation, left here for Berlin on Wednesday night, after turning over to this legation the archives of the embassy to which he belonged. He expressed himself as much gratified with the courtesy which we have extended to him in receiving the archives of his embassy, and in assuming the protection of the subjects of the sovereign whom he represented. Many subjects of the North German Confederacy found themselves here upon the formal declaration of war, and the count left with me sufficient funds to pay the expenses of a certain number of them, who would be directed to call at this legation to obtain the proper authoriza tion to leave the French territory. Accordingly many have presented themselves during the past three days to receive some proper instrument that will enable them to go out of France. I was unwilling to give any paper or certificate, in the nature of a visa, unless I was satisfied it would be respected by the French military and civil authorities. I therefore went to the Foreign Office yesterday to state the case and to ascertain whether these North German subjects would be permitted to leave, and, if so, upon what kind of a protection, to be issued by me. I was there advised that it was a somewhat serious question, and that it would be best for me to state my object in writing. I then addressed a letter to the Duke de Gramont, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, marked A. I was promised an answer to this letter before this time; but now, at five o'clock p. m., it has not come, and will not in season to send you a translation of it by the dispatch-bag, which leaves to-night and goes by the way of England. I send you also a copy of Colonel Hoffman's letter, marked B, to the Duke de Gramont, in relation to the authorization of our Government to extend protection to North German subjects, with the assent of the government of his Majesty the Emperor; also the reply of the Duke de Gramont thereto. E. B. WASHBURNE. A. Mr. E. B. Washburne to the Duke de Gramont. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Referring to the letter of Colonel Hoffman, of the 17th instant, to your excellency, in relation to putting the subjects of the North German Confederation residing in French territory under the protection of this legation, and the response of your excellency of the following day, giving the entire consent of the French government thereto, I have the honor to state that quite a number of the citizens of the North German Confederation, finding themselves in Paris at the time of the declaration of war, have applied to me for such protection as will enable them to leave the French territory. I have, therefore, now to apply to your excellency to know whether any certificate in the nature of a visa, given by me to these subjects of the North German Confederation, will be so far respected as to enable them to pass into the neutral territory of Belgium. I have to state that there will be no more than one hundred of these persons, and they are mostly poor men who have been necessarily detained here by reasons over which they had no control, and who are extremely desirous of leaving France. In this connection I beg leave to observe that I only desire to conform to what is due to the function which I have undertaken in this respect, with the assent of the government of his Majesty the Emperor. While, perhaps, under a strict construction of public law, the government of his Majesty would have the absolute right to treat as enemies of war all of the subjects of the North German Confederation finding themselves in France after the 19th instant, yet under the modern and more humane interpretation given to that right, the government of his Majesty might deem it consistent with its views to permit these men to leave the territory of France within the reasonable time which the text-writers observe has become the usual concession of nations engaged in war. I will thank you to advise me upon this subject at the earliest convenient moment, so that I can inform these men in regard to their application. If permission be granted, I beg to request that I may be informed of the nature of the certificate to be given by me, which will be respected by the military and civil authorities of his Majesty's gov I was requested by the ambassador of the North German Confederation, before his departure from Paris, to take the North German subjects residing in French territory under the protection of this legation. To-day I am in receipt of a telegram from my Government authorizing me to do so, provided that it be done with the assent of his Majesty's government. I have the honor to apply for this assent. * * WICKHAM HOFFMAN. The Duke de Gramont to Mr. W. Hoffman. [Translation.] PARIS, July 18, 1870. I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me, of yesterday's date, in which you say you have been instructed by the cabinet at Washington to take under your protection the subjects of the North German Confederation residing in France. The governnfent of his Majesty has no objection to your charging yourself with this mission, and I hasten to respond to your desire that we give to you our entire assent. Mr. WICKHAM HOFFMAN, * * GRAMONT. Charge d'Affaires, &c., &c. No. 49. Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish. [Telegram.-Received July 25, 1870, at 9.30 a. m.]. FISH, Washington : PARIS, July 24, 1870. French government assents to our protecting North Germans and Saxons. Hesse Grand-Ducale and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha also ask protection. WASHBURNE. No. 234.] No. 50. Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, July 26, 1870. (Received August 11.) SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the correspondence relating to the protection of subjects of the King of Saxony residing in France by the Government of the United States, as follows: 1st. A translation of a communication from Baron Lüttichau, chargé d'affaires of Saxony, asking that protection may be given. 2d. A copy of my letter to the Duke de Gramont upon the subject; and 3d. A translation of a note from the Foreign Office, signed H. Desprez, giving the entire assent of the government of the Emperor to the protection assumed by this legation. Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State. E. B. WASHBURNE. Baron de Lüttichau to Mr. E. B. Washburne. [Translation.] ROYAL LEGATION OF SAXONY, Mr. MINISTER: The government of the King, compelled by events to recall his legation from Paris, earnestly desires permission to place under the protection of the legation of the United States, pending the existence of the war that has been declared, the interests of Saxon subjects in France. In conformity with the orders which I have just received, I have recourse to the great kindness of your excellency, and beg you to inform me if you consent to this request of my government. I profit by the present occasion to offer to your excellency the assurance, &c., &c., &c. DE LUTTICHAU, His Excellency Mr. WASHBURNE, Minister of the United States, Paris. Chargé d'Affaires. Mr. E. B. Washburne to the Duke de Gramont. SIR: I am requested by the chargé d'affaires of Saxony, near the court of his Majesty the Emperor of the French, to take the subjects of Saxony in France under the protection of this legation. Having received the assent of my Government to take the subjeets of North Germany under the protection of this legation, I have assumed that it would give the same protection to the subjects of Saxony, provided it should meet with the approval of the government of his Majesty the Emperor. I will thank you to communicate to me at an early moment the action of his Majesty's government in this regard. I take the present opportunity to renew, His Excellency the DUKE DE GRAMONT, &c., Minister of Foreign Affairs. E. B. WASHBURNE. Mr. H. Desprez to Mr. E. B. Washburne. [Translation.] PARIS, July 21, 1870. SIR: To respond to your letter which you have done me the honor to write to me under date of yesterday, I hasten to inform you that the government of the Emperor gives its entire assent to your assuming, during the war, the protection of Saxon citizens in France. Receive the assurance of the high consideration, &c., &c., &c. Mr. WASHBURNE, Minister of the United States, Paris. H. DESPREZ. Nc. 235.] No. 51. Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, July 26, 1870. (Received Aug. 11.) I have the honor to inclose a copy of the correspondence bearing upon the protection afforded by the Government of the United States to the subjects of Hesse Grand-Ducale, resident in France, who, owing to the alliance formed between the government of the North German Confederation and that of Hesse, have become the enemies of France in the war declared on the 19th of the present month. The correspondence embraces, 1st. A translation of a letter from Count d'Euzenberg, minister resident of Hesse Grand-Ducale at Paris. 2d. A copy of a letter addressed by myself to the Duke de Gramont asking the assent of the government of the Emperor for such protection, and 3d. The translation of a letter from the Duke de Gramont giving the assent desired. E. B. WASHBURNE. Count d'Euzenberg to Mr. E. B. Washburne. LEGATION OF HESSE GRAND-DUCALE, Mr. MINISTER: My government having informed me of the fact of the declaration of war by France against the North German Confederation, of the date of July 19, current, the alliance under the military convention concluded between the two governments of Hesse and the North German Confederation still exists. In consequence I am instructed to address your excellency without delay, in order to inform you of the desire of my government that you will take all the subjects of Hesse residing in Paris and in France, as well as the archives of the legation, under the protection of the United States. I hasten to obey this order, and I beg your excellency to be assured of the high estimate which my government attaches to this protection; and already in advance, and in my own name, I pray your excellency to be pleased to accept my heartfelt thanks as a testimony of courtesy and international good will, and I take this occasion to renew the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, Mr. Minister, your excellency's humble and devoted servant. His Excellency E. B. WASHBURNE, EUZENBERG, Minister Resident. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mr. E. B, Washburne to the Duke de Gramont. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The Grand Duke of Hesse Grand-Ducale has directed Count d'Enzenberg, his minister resident near the court of his Majesty, the Emperor of the French to address himself to me, with the request that the Government of the United States should permit all subjects of Hesse finding themselves in Paris or in France, together with the archives of Hesse Grand-Ducale, to be placed under the protection of the United States. I have to state to your excellency that I shall feel authorized to assume such protection, with the assent of the government of his Majesty the Emperor. I would be pleased, therefore, if you would advise me, at your earliest convenience, if such assent will be given. I take the present opportunity, &c., &c., His Excellency the DUKE DE GRAMONT, Minister of Foreign Affairs. E. B. WASHBURNE. The Duke de Gramont to Mr. E. B. Washburne. [Translation.] PARIS, July 25, 1870. I hasten to inform you, in answer to the letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 23d of this month, that the government of the Emperor gives its entire assent in order that you may assume, during the war, the protection of the subjects of Hesse Grand-Ducale, residing in France. Receive the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be. sir, your very humble servant, Mr. WASHBURNE, Minister of the United States, Paris. GRAMONT. No. 52. Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish. No. 238.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, July 29, 1870. (Received Aug. 11.) Referring to my dispatch of the 22d instant, numbered 231, and to the reference therein to the question of the departure of the subjects of |