Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1871

Circular No. 6.

Department of State, Washington, March 13, 1871.

To the several diplomatic and consular officers and dispatch agents of the United States:

The following matter, only, may be hereafter transmitted in the Government pouches to the United States:

1st. Official correspondence, and all other matter addressed to the President or Vice-President of the United States, or to either of the Executive Departments of this Government, or the heads thereof, or to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

2d. Letters, newspapers, and printed matter intended for either of the Assistant Secretaries, the Assistant Postmasters General, or the Assistant Attorneys General, or for any of the clerks of this Department.

3d. The private correspondence of the officials of the United States abroad, and of the members of their families, addressed as provided in paragraph 346 of the Consular Regulations.

4th. Matter transmitted at the request of any foreign government to its representative in the United States.

Except as above, no matter will be sent in the pouches.

From the United States nothing will be sent in the pouches except through this Department.

HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.