Dubs to Louis Hitz, December 31, 1864

The Federal Council to Mr. Hitz

In reference to petitions presented by a great number of Swiss citizens, the federal council has been occupied with the consideration of the question, whether Swiss citizens, owners of ships, should not also be admitted to the benefit of carrying the Swiss flag on the high seas.

Switzerland is assuredly on equality with any other nation in the right to use the free passage of the seas under her own name, and the circumstance that she does not border immediately on the seas cannot impair this right.

On the other hand, the federal council does not dissemble that, from the last circumstance, some difficulty may arise about the practical exercise of her right.

In consequence the federal council, before making a definite decision on this matter, takes the liberty to inquire of the general government of the United States whether it would be disposed to admit to its ports Swiss vessels expressly authorized by the federal council to carry the Swiss flag, and to assure to them like legal position as to vessels of other nations, as also to accord to Swiss, established in the respective states, authority to build Swiss vessels and to freight them.

The federal council can the better yield itself to the hope of a favorable answer, because the neutral flag of Switzerland might, according to conjunctures, become advantageous to all the states or to general commerce. The federal council, moreover, would not hesitate an instant in accepting all the obligations of international right which attach to that of carrying a flag.

The federal council has the honor to present to his excellency the assurances of its high consideration.

In the name of the Swiss federal council,