Mr. Fish to Mr. Washburne
Sir: Your No. 389, relating to the protection of American property in Paris during its occupation by the Germans, is received and has been read with interest.
In it you invite my attention to correspondence that had previously taken place between Mr. Von Thile and Mr. Bancroft under instructions from this Department, which were issued in consequence of suggestions made by you.
It also appears from your letter that notwithstanding the assurances given by Mr. Von Thile in this correspondence, German soldiers were actually billeted on Americans during the short occupation of Paris, and that a correspondence had taken place in consequence between Count Bismarck and yourself.
I gather further from your dispatch that the actual disposition of the soldiers was made under the directions of the mayor of Paris, who appears to have endeavored to relieve his own countrymen at the expense of citizens of the United States who have temporarily expatriated themselves, and transferred their property to French protection to the estimated amount of from seven to ten millions of dollars.
It would thus appear that the act of billeting the soldiers on Americans was committed rather by the French authorities than by the Germans; and that before an answer was received to your representations to Count Bismarck the Germans had left Paris. It would also seem that the damage which they committed was trifling, and that no American has made complaint. The Department fully approves of the zeal and discretion with which you have watched over the interests of your countrymen in this matter. It is a subject of congratulation that the facts do not call for any further active steps.
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I am, &c.,