Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish
Sir:—I have received both from Mr. Motley and Mr. Bancroft a copy of your telegraphic dispatch of the 15th ultimo, in which you state that the President instructs you to say that whenever General Read and myself, or either of us, desire to leave Paris, we are at liberty to do so, going to “Tours and communicating with the proper officials there.” I have communicated the message to General Read, and we are both [Page 271] very grateful to the President and yourself for your kindness in this regard.
The dispatch leaves it discretionary with me to remain in Paris, or go out and repair to Tours. It is, therefore, for me to determine what, in my judgment, the interests of my Government requires, and what my duty is in the premises. If I were shut off from all communication with you it might be important that I should leave here in order to hold intercourse with you. Such is not, however, the case at present, for I am now enabled to send dispatches to you and receive them from you once each week, which is as much as I would be likely to do were I at Tours. That being the case, the question for me to decide is, where can I be of the most service, in Paris or in Tours? I have no doubt on that subject, and great as my desire is to get out of this besieged city and to join my family, from whom I have been so long separated, I consider it my duty to remain here, at least for the present. Paris is the seat of government of the country to which I am accredited, and is the seat of the present provisional government of the national defense, which has been duly recognized by the United States. And here is also the minister of foreign affairs, with whom I have to be more or less in communication. There are yet remaining in Paris some one hundred and fifty Americans, many of whom have been unable for various reasons to get away, and some of whom have remained here because I have remained.
The French government having heretofore given them every opportunity for leaving, which they did not take advantage of, now declines, for military reasons, to permit the people of any nationality to leave Paris. Therefore, my countrymen now here all look to me for a certain protection, and they would much regret to see me go away, leaving them behind. There is also a large amount of American property in Paris under my protection, and circumstances may arise when it might become important for me to be here.
Independently of what belongs to our own legation, I am more or less occupied every day with the affairs of the North German Confederation. I am now furnishing three hundred and forty-one poor Germans pecuniary assistance, and the number is increasing every day. It is impossible for the messenger of the legation to attend to them all, and I have had to employ a man specially for that purpose.
Under all the circumstances, therefore, I think my determination to remain at my post will meet with the approval of the President and yourself.
I have, &c.,