No. 104.
Mr. Washburne to Mr.
Fish
No. 358.]
Legation of the United States, Paris, February 4, 1871.
(Received February 23.)
Sir: In transmitting my correspondence with Count
Bismarck in relation to the dispatch-bag to you, one letter from me to him
was omitted, and I have the honor to inclose you herewith a copy thereof, to
be placed with the correspondence.
I have, &c.,
Mr. E. B. Washburne to Count de Bismarck
Legation of the United States,
Paris, January 2, 1871.
Sir: I beg leave to thank you for sending my
dispatch-bag at an earlier period than heretofore. I am enabled thus to
answer the dispatches of my Government to go out [Page 296] by the courier tomorrow morning, I
should be very glad if they could arrive in London by Friday, so as to
go by the Saturday steamer. I duly received the London journals, and it
is unnecessary to say that their contents have been most strictly
guarded. I think there must have been some misapprehension in London in
regard to my private letters. Mr. Moran, our chargé d’affaires, writes
me that he was not permitted to send me any letters, except from my
wife, who is now at Brussels. The consequence is that private letters to
me from the United States minister at Brussels; from my son, who is in
college in the United States; another son, who is at school in London,
as well as a great many letters from my personal and political friends
at home, have been detained, and are now at London. As the greater
includes the less, I suppose that, after you had kindly conceded to me
the journals containing military and political information, there would
be no objection to my receiving my private correspondence having
probably no reference to such matters, but if containing any
information, it would be equally guarded with information I obtain from
the journals. If such should be your understanding, I would be very glad
if you would so telegraph to London, so my letters can come to me by the
bag which leaves London next Friday. I should hope by the following
Wednesday to receive them.
I have the honor, &c.,