Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

Mr. Seward to Mr. Geofroy

Department of State, Washington, April 28, 1864.

Sir: Recurring to your note of the 30th ultimo, relative to the proposed increase of duties on imports, I have the honor to enclose a copy of the reply of the 23d instant, received from the Secretary of the Treasury, to my letter communicating a translation of your note to him. I shall, without delay, bring the subject under the consideration of the Committee of Ways and Means of the House of Representatives in the manner suggested by Mr. Chase.

Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. L. de Geofroy, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Chase to Mr. Seward

Treasury Department, April 23, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to return herewith the despatch of M. de Geofroy, chargé d’affaires of France, respecting the proposed increase of duties on articles of French production, caused by your letter of the 6th instant, inviting my attention to the statements of M. de Geofroy, of the operation of the present tariff upon the commerce of France and the United States.

It is a matter of regret that our civil war should affect unfavorably the commercial interests of France, and it is my wish that whatever tariff of duties may be created by Congress under the pressure of our great expenditures, the duties on French products may be in perfect equality with the duties levied on the products of other nations.

I would respectfully suggest that this despatch of M. de Geofroy be communicated to the Committee of Ways and Means, for their consideration.

With great respect,

S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State,