E. B. Washburne to Hamilton Fish, October 18, 1870

Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.

Sir: Many of our countrymen, shut in by the investment of Paris, having become very anxious to leave the city, I asked General Burnside to procure, if possible, the permission of the Prussian authorities to go through their military lines. The general having advised me that Count de Bismarck had authorized him to say that he would permit all Americans to go through their lines that I would ask for, I yesterday made application to the French government for authority to the citizens of the United States to leave the city, and go through their military lines. Just as I was about to close my dispatches to send out early in the morning, I received the letter from Mr. Jules Favre which I have the honor to send herewith. I must confess that I was very much surprised and disappointed. If the decision is adhered to in its full force, the disappointment to large numbers of our countrymen now in Paris will be very great. I estimate that there are between two hundred and two hundred and fifty Americans now in Paris, and that about one hundred of them are anxious to leave. Among this number desirous of going away are found many cut off from their communications from home, who are without funds, and who have no means whatever of living. If the siege continues for a long time, and they cannot get away, their condition must become deplorable in the extreme. I need not say that matters are becoming very embarrassing, but I hope we shall get through in some satisfactory way. I shall look further into this matter of the departure of our people, and write you by the first opportunity.