DUBS, President of the Confederation to Geo. Harrington, May 15, 1868

The High Federal Council to Mr. Harrington.

Sir: On returning to the minister resident of the United of America the papers that came with his note of the 11th instant, relating to Charles Berry, of Basle, not of Liestal, the federal council sends to Mr. Harrington the report made on the subject by the government of the city of Basle, contained in a letter of the 13th of this month, as follows:

“Charles Berry is a man who has already given his parents much trouble: in 1859 they caused him to be interdicted by the orphans’ court, the proper tribunal, and a trustee appointed for him.

“On the proposal of this trustee, and Berry’s parents, to put him in prison at hard labor, in conformity with the city laws of Basle, the city council ordered an inquiry of the case to be made on the 22d of April last, charged the chief of police to examine Berry and to make a report on the case.

“As Berry had a bad reputation, and was accused of bigamy, the chief of police did not hesitate to arrest him on his arrival at Basle. The report having been made to the council, it was decided not to commit Berry to the workhouse, whatever foundation the charges against him might have. After this, Berry was immediately set at liberty. At the time this was done, the authorities did not know that Berry was an American citizen. Be as it may, he is still a citizen of Basle, and cannot renounce it, because he is under guardianship. His tutor and parents sued him as a citizen of Basle, and not as an American citizen; and if he wishes to renounce his Basle citizenship, as it seems he does, he must do it legally, as was done last autumn, in a similar case.”

To this report of the council of Basle, the federal council adds, that to prevent further disturbance Charles Berry must formally renounce his citizenship of the canton, by the laws of Basle, because the naturalization of a Swiss in another country cannot, ipso facto, annul his Swiss citizenship. But if Berry wishes to preserve his right as a citizen of Basle, he must submit to be treated like any other inhabitant of Basle.

The federal council embraces the occasion, &c., &c., &c.