Drouyn de L’huys to William L. Dayton, October 15, 1863

Mr. de l’Huys to Mr. Dayton.

Sir: You have done me the honor to write to me, to call my attention to agreements entered into (marchés passés) in France, according to information which you have communicated to me, for the construction and delivery to the seceded States of several vessels armed for war. You have expressed the desire that the official authorization accorded for the armament of these vessels might be withdrawn, and that the government of the Emperor might take measures, which it should judge proper, to prevent the completion and delivery of the vessels themselves. I hastened to speak of this matter to my colleague of the department of the marine, recommending it very particularly to his examination. I do not believe that I can do better than to transmit to you, sir, a copy of the answer which he has just addressed to me. The only information which the department of the marine had directly received concerning the operations in question attributed to them, as you will see, is of such a character that, up to the present moment, there was no motive for hindering them. It is only, then, by the explanations which he is going to call forth, by the aid of the papers which you have brought to my knowledge, that M. le Comte de Chasseloup Laubat shall be able to judge of the measures to be taken conformably to our declaration of neutrality.

Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,