BRULATOUR, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Jules Ferry, June 24, 1884

Mr. Brulatour to Mr. Ferry.

Sir: Referring to my communication of the 17th instant in relation to the right claimed by the Commercial Cable Company to land in France upon the same terms granted in the United States to the French company, I have the honor of sending herewith to your excellency a copy of a dispatch received this morning from the Secretary of State of the United States Government.

Your excellency will see that Mr. Frelinghuysen states, in almost the identical language used by me in the above-mentioned communication, that the agreement of 1879 was intended to assure reciprocity of treatment to any American citizens applying for the privilege of landing in France a cable connecting the two countries. It was not supposed at the time that a question would ever arise upon the route taken by the cables connecting the two countries, and that the fact of touching at an intermediary point could make any difference at all in the matter.

The President of the United States believes that the American Commercial Cable Company is entitled to the full and unrestricted right of landing given to the French Cable, and has no doubt that the French Government will come to the same conclusion.

It is with this view that I send a copy of the telegram of Mr. Frelinghuysen, which was only intended for the legation, but which shows exactly the position taken by the United States Government in the matter.

Copies of the notes to the French minister referred to by Mr. Frelinghuysen are undoubtedly in your excellency’s department.

I avail, &c.,