G. Harrington to Dr. J. Dubs, President of the Swiss Confederation, Berne, August 3, 1868

Mr. Harrington to the High Federal Council.

The undersigned, minister resident of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication from the high federal council of the 25th ultimo, transmitting copy of a report from the council of state of the canton of the Valais, relative to the difficulty that occurred in September last on the route “Fête Noire,” between a party of Americans and certain guides, heretofore under consideration.

In thanking the high federal council for their action in the premises, the undersigned can only reiterate his regrets that a portion of the testimony tending to the opposite conclusions of those originally emitted by the prefect of Martigny should continue to be suppressed, the undersigned having been assured by the party making it that such testimony was submitted in writing. The undersigned observes that, in addition to the judgment of the prefect of Martigny, the council of state has pronounced the chief commissioner also to have been guilty of impropriety, and subjected him to reprimand. Slight as the punishment has been, in the opinion of the undersigned, for such grave offences, he is not without hope that it will tend to restrain the unauthorized and improper conduct on the part of the official guides, of which there has been heretofore so frequent occasions for complaint.

The undersigned begs to renew to your excellency, and the high federal council, the assurances of his highest consideration.