Mr. Seward to Mr. Wright.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your despatch of the 21st of March, (No. 24,) which contains a relation of a conversation which, previous to that day, you had had with Count Bismarck concerning his protocol upon the subject of the recognition of Prussians who have become naturalized in the United States, and in which conversation a revision of the commercial and extradition treaties existing between the United States and Prussia was also discussed.
The President is favorably impressed with the good disposition which Count Bismarck manifested on that occasion. His remarks, as you have reported them to me, have not had the effect to change the views which have been expressed in regard to those subjects in the instructions which you have received from this department. It would give me pleasure, however, to reply on behalf of the United States to Count Bismarck’s arguments, and I have some, though not very confident, grounds for believing that in such a reply, which would be made, of course, in a spirit altogether friendly, we might advance towards a solution of the difficulty.
You will perceive at once that it would be an unusual proceeding for this government to make a formal reply to the argument of the Prussian minister for foreign affairs, which argument is presented on his part to us, not in writing, but orally, and is made known to us only by the report of our representative in Berlin. You may give such an intimation as this to the count, and inform him that if he shall think it expedient to give his argument in the customary form it will be taken into deliberate and friendly consideration.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Joseph A. Wright, Esq., &c., &c., &c.