Count Wolkenstein to Count Beust, December 16, 1871

No. 64. Count Wolkenstein to Count Beust.

I have to-day conversed with Mr. Hammond, the under secretary of state, now intrusted with the charge of the foreign office, in regard to the contents of your dispatch dated Saltzburg, 8th September, 1871, upon the adoption by the English government and that of the United States of certain rules as to the treatment of neutrals on the high seas. He immediately replied to me that the paragraph in question, contained in the message of Queen Victoria to the Parliament, of the 18th August, referred to Article VI of the treaty of Washington of the 8th May, 1871, and that both the said governments, in view of the concluding phrase of the said article, (“and the high contracting powers agree to observe these rules as between themselves in future, and to bring them to the knowledge of the other maritime powers and to invite them to accede to them,”) would shortly transmit the requisite official communication to the other powers.

Mr. Hammond also remarked that he was unable to anticipate the official action of the governments, and accordingly could not give me further information on this subject.

Be pleased, &c.