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

Mr. Wright to Mr. Seward.

No. 56.]

Legation of the United States, Berlin, October 22, 1866.

Sir: Your despatch No. 47, dated September 24th, has been received. Count Bismarck is still absent, and his return uncertain. His health is improving. The subjects mentioned in your last despatch shall receive prompt attention on his return.

Enclosed will be found the correspondence with the Prussian authorities on the subject of the alleged arrest of Charles Müller and Charles Berger.

The previous information forwarded to the department in despatch No. 53, dated September 24th, in connection with the enclosed, embraces all I have upon the subject. I know of no means of acquiring any further information as to the facts of the case. If the Prussian government, in the answer of Baron Thile, has given a true statement of the facts, it seems to me that there is no further cause of complaint.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH A. WRIGHT.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Wright to Count Bismarck.

United States Legation, Berlin, September 3, 1866.

Sir: The undersigned has the honor to call the attention of Count Bismarck, minister president, &c., to the alleged forcible arrest, on or about the 18th of July last, by order of the captain of the Prussian man-of-war Nymph, of Charles Berger and Charles Müller, on board the American steamer Baltic, lying in the port of Bremerhaven.

I have been advised that at the time of their seizure they were seamen on board the said Baltic, and were a part of the crew shipped from the port of New York. They were on their return voyage, as per contract, and were embraced in the steamer’s shipping list.

Their nationality as Americans was prima facie. If Berger and Müller were guilty of crimes it would have been more in consonance with the law of nations and in accordance with the spirit of the age for this arrest to have been made by the proper officers under the legal authorities, than to have been taken by force from a vessel lying in any of the public harbors. Such a procedure is not the best calculated to preserve law and order.

The undersigned presents the case for examination, not knowing the special charges alleged against the said persons, nor doubting but that his Majesty’s government will, upon investigation, be able to make such a reply as will afford additional evidence of the long-established friendship existing between the two countries.

The undersigned takes this occasion &c., &c.

JOSEPH A. WRIGHT.

His Excellency Count Bismarck, &c., &c., &c.

[Translation.]

Baron Thile to Mr. Wright.

Berlin, October 19, 1866.

Sir: After the reception of your note of last month concerning the forcible arrest of the two seamen, Charles Berger and Charles Müller, from the American steamer Baltic, the undersigned called the immediate attention of the minister of marine to the affair.

From information received from the commander of the royal squadron, it appears that the affair did not occur as supposed in said note, but in the following manner:

During the first part of the month of July last the said Charles Müller, already engaged as an assistant engineer on the Baltic, a Prussian landwehrmann, still subject to the military laws, presented himself to the commander of the royal fleet to be received in the Prussian marine, and at the same time informed the commander that Charles Berger, a fireman on the Baltic, who also was still subject the the military laws, desired also to take service in the Prussian marine, but could not leave the steamer.

The commander ad interim of the port went on board of the Baltic to learn about Charles Berger, and he (Berger) was immediately released; the captain of the said steamer not objecting, but, on the contrary, found it all right.

According to this no force was resorted to, nor has any principle of international law been violated.

The undersigned doubts not but that this communication will be perfectly satisfactory, and place the affair, which has been misrepresented by the public papers, in its true light.

The undersigned takes this occasion to renew, &c., &c.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, (By authority,) THILE.

Mr. Joseph A. Wright, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Hunter to Mr. Wright.

No. 49.]

Department of State, Washington, October 29, 1866.

Sir: Herewith I enclose a transcript of a letter dated at Dresden, September 30, 1866, and addressed to the Mayor of Philadelphia, (who has referred it to this department,) from Frederick Boettener, who is now compulsorily serving in the Prussian army. As you are already familiar with the facts in this case, I deem it unnecessary, in transmitting to you the accompanying paper, to do more than instruct you to use your good offices in behalf of Mr. Boettener, whose release it is hoped you may now be able to effect.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary.

Joseph A. Wright, Esq., &c., &c., &c.