Jacob S. Haldeman to William H. Seward, November 3, 1863

Mr. Haldeman to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your despatch of the 5th of last month No. 34.

I take the liberty to enclose an abridgment of the great Swedish case (cut from the London Times) relating to “the duties of neutral nations.” In 1825, the Swedish government was occupied in the construction of its navy, and had sold several vessels of war considered unfit for service. Among others in the year 1825 three vessels, one ship-of-the-line and two frigates, were offered for sale at. Stockholm; these vessels were purchased by a British mercantile firm in open market. The Spanish minister, M. Alvarado, (instructed by his government,) having cause to believe or discovering that the vessels were intended to augment the naval forces of the revolted Spanish American colonies, protested and remonstrated against their being permitted to depart from Sweden, “since these ships (no doubt without the cognizance of the Swedish government) are destined to re-enforce the rebel armaments of Mexico.” He also writes that he is well aware that the British purchasers are far from admitting such a destination, but, on the contrary, have omitted no means to dissemble it, and thereby to deceive the good faith of the cabinet of Stockholm; also, that the sale of such public vessels not being an act of customary trade on the part of a government of a state, Spain protests against it, as an act inconsistent with the neutrality of the Swedish crown.

M. de Curry, in commenting on the above transaction in his treatise entitled “Phases et Causes Célèbres du Droit Maritime des Nationes,” observes that the sale of these ships was originally intended as a simple operation of commerce upon the part of the Swedish government, and as such was perfectly legitimate on its part; but as soon as it was brought clearly to its knowledge that such of the vessels as had been permitted to sail were destined to augment the maritime forces of the insurgent colonists, the Swedish government felt it to be inconsistent with the neutrality of the Swedish crown that it should lend itself to a transaction whereby the state would be rendered subservient to the uses of war of one of the belligerent parties, to the manifest prejudice of the other, and as its good faith had been surprised, cancelled the sale of such of the vessels as were still in Swedish waters.

The purchasers received $9,000 from the Swedish government for giving up their bargain, and so the affair peaceably concluded.

I remain, your obedient servant,