Letter

E. B. Washburne to the minister of foreign affairs, September 24, 1870

Author

E. B. Washburne

Recipient

the minister of foreign affairs

Date

September 24, 1870

Type

Letter

Language

English

No. 2.

Mr. E. B. Washburne to the minister of foreign affairs.

Legation of the United States, Paris, September 24, 1870.

The following named consuls general and consuls at Paris, to wit, E. Tibergheim Ackerman, consul general of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay; Jules Thirion, consul general of the Dominican Republic; Gabriel Lafond de Lurcy, consul general of the republic of Costa Rica; B. Fourguet, consul general of the republic of Ecuador; Francisco Fernandez Rodella, consul general of the republic of Chili; Ludovic Janré, consul of the republic of Paraguay; Eugene Thirion, consul of the republic of the United States of Venezuela, who are clothed with consular functions by the Southern and Central American republics, state to me that they have either no accredited diplomatic representative in Europe, or that the chiefs of such legations as have representatives at Paris are absent from the city. Considering-therefore the grave circumstances at present existing in Paris, they have done me the honor to request that I might, as the representative of a sister and friendly republic, extend my good offices and friendly protection to the arms, flags, and residences of their consulates general and consulates, as well as to their fellow citizens finding themselves in Paris.

As I am without the means of communication with my Government on the subject, I shall assume that it would desire me, under the circumstances, to extend my good offices and protection in every proper manner, but with the knowledge and consent of the government of the national defense. I have the honor therefore to submit this matter to the consideration of your excellency, with a request that you may inform me if the consent of your Government will be given to me to extend my good offices and protection as herein indicated, and in a manner in conformity with the law of nations and the amity that exists between friendly powers.

I take this occasion to renew to your excellency the assurance of the distinguished consideration with which I am your excellency’s obedient servant,

E. B. WASHBURNE.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the Pr View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the Pr.