No. 889.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Bell.

No. 118.]

Sir: Your dispatch, No. 300, of the 3d instant, reporting the views of the Dutch minister of foreign affairs, expressed to you in your personal interview with him relative to the course of the Netherlands in enrolling Mr. Connell, an American citizen resident in Batavia, for military duty in that place, has been received.

Your observations on the Dutch minister’s views point out very clearly the anomaly in the Dutch practice, but as Mr. Connell has withdrawn the basis of our complaint, the Department, while not assenting to the position of the Dutch Government as to the principle involved, is willing that the question may rest until another case revives it.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.