No. 491.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Evarts.
Berne , February 23, 1878. (Received March 12.)
Sir: Yesterday, being Washington’s birthday, I displayed the flag at the legation during the day; and in the evening I gave a dinner to the President of the Confederation and the members of the Federal Council, at which all the chiefs of missions were present. The President, during the dinner, arose, and after making a friendly allusion to the flag, said that he had great pleasure in inviting us all to join him in drinking to the memory of that most illustrious statesman, Washington, and to the health of the President of the United States. I responded by inviting them to drink to the health of the President of the Confederation and the welfare and happiness of the Swiss people. Both toasts were drunk with much enthusiasm.
After the dinner the President sought a private conversation with me, and said that he learned with much regret that it was contemplated by a committee of Congress to withdraw this mission; that this government would view such a withdrawal with great regret; and that it was their wish that the mission might be continued in the interest of the two sister republics. He then asked me if he could take any measures to prevent the abolition of the mission. I told him that I felt sure that neither you nor the President desired the suppression of the mission; and that it [Page 829] might be agreeable to you to receive an assurance from the Swiss Government that they desired its continuation.
I learn from my colleagues that there is a very deep feeling among the members of this government upon the subject, and that they consider it a slight upon them from a government with whom their own is bound by so many ties and mutual interests. Should occasion arise, I will try to explain that such is not the intention of the committee of Congress in proposing the change.
I have a delicacy in expressing my own views on this subject, but I have no hesitancy in saying that the reduction in the grade of the British mission from that of an envoy to that of a minister resident weakened their influence here, and created a feeling which, having lasted already several years, is not likely to die out. I am convinced that the regret expressed by Mr. Welte, then President of the Confederation at the reduction in rank of our mission was sincere on his part, and that it is shared not only by his successor in office, Mr. Schenk, but also by all his colleagues in the Federal Council; and I cannot but believe that a restoration to its former rank rather than its suppression would be to the best interests of the United States.
I have, & c.,