Gramont to [For inclosure 3, see preceding number.], April 1, 1870

The Duke de Gramont to Mr. W. Hoffman.

Sir: The consignees of the German steamers established between Hamburg, Bremen, and New York, stopping at Havre, have applied to the cabinet of Washington to know if they could, notwithstanding the war, continue their traffic without being exposed to capture, and Mr. Hoffman was in consequence charged to ask of me what are, in this respect, the intentions of the government of the Emperor.

My colleague, the minister of the marine, whom I have just consulted upon this subject, desires me, with reason, to observe that the steamers in question are enemies’ ships, and do not find themselves in any of the conditions required in order that, after the opening of hostilities, they may permanently be exceptionably authorized to continue the mercantile operations to which they are devoted. It is true that, like all merchant ships, they take charge of letters or of mails, the carriage of which, according to the federal laws, gives a right to compensation from the American treasury. But this compensation, whatever may be its form, cannot in any way influence the hostile and private character of the ship which receives it, nor consequently justify any exception to the general principle of the law of nations, of the character of that to which the telegraphic dispatch, which Mr. Hoffman did me the honor to communicate to me on the 18th of this month, refers.

The government of the Emperor feels, therefore, regret that it cannot resolve favorably the question put by the consignees of the Bremen and Hamburg steamers. However, and in order to save in a certain measure the complex interests engaged in these ships, we are disposed to exempt from capture those among them which are actually at sea, and which, in ignorance of the state of war, may enter one of the ports of the empire. I hope that the suspension of service performed by the company of Lloyd and of North Germany will not have for the federal Post Office the disagreeable consequences which it appears to apprehend, as the English and French packet-boats from Liverpool and from Havre will not cease to keep up regular communication between the United States and Europe. Receive &c.