Count be Bismarck to E. B. Washburne, January 15, 1871

[Untitled]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your excellency the dispatch-bag received from London. In accordance with the wish expressed in your letter of the 13th instant, I have, on my personal responsibility, immediately forwarded your dispatch-bag to London. In so doing I acted against the principle adopted by the general staff, that no sealed packages or letters shall be allowed to pass through our lines in either direction without a stoppage of several days. The motive of this rule is the apprehension of the general staff that even the most scrupulous loyalty and attention on the part of the responsible chief might not always exclude the possibility of missives being, by irresponsible parties, introduced into an official cover.

However much I may, from personal consideration, feel inclined to oppose this restriction in all cases where you are concerned, I cannot help perceiving that all my endeavors will be fruitless after the impression produced upon our general staff by the balloon letters which form the subject of another communication.

I therefore regret to state that it is out of my power to establish the present instance of immediate transmission as a precedent.

I remain, &c.,