La Marmora to George P. Marsh, Envoy Extraordinary and, June 6, 1865

C.

Mr. Minister: The transfer of the capital to Florence has not allowed me to reply sooner to the note you did me the honor to address me, under date of May 5, communicating to me proclamations of the late President of the United States, Mr. Lincoln, relating to the treatment of ships-of-war of the Union in foreign waters and to the closing of certain ports of the United States.

You are aware, Mr. Minister, that the King’s government has never concealed its sympathies for the just cause which has obtained so decisive successes, and you have yourself admitted that if we have been obliged to apply, in principle, to the armed vessels of the United States in the waters of Italy the conditions which our regulations impose upon belligerent vessels, we have taken care to mitigate their enforcement in practice, so as to embarrass as little as possible the entrance of Union ships-of-war into our ports and roads and their stay at such points.

Now that the civil war may be considered at an end, we are happy to be able to give to the government of the United States new pledges of our continued friendship.

I hasten, then, to announce to you that all the restrictions provisionally adopted with reference to the armed vessels of the United States are rescinded, and that hereafter these vessels will be treated in our waters on the footing of the ships-of-war of other friendly powers in time of peace.

As to the armed vessels of the separatists, we hope that none of them will appear on our coasts. But if, contrary to all probability, any such should present themselves, they would not be received into our ports except in case of urgent necessity, under circumstances where the laws of humanity would not allow us to reject them; and in that event, our authorities will take all necessary precautions to prevent any inconvenience from resulting therefrom.

Accept, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my high consideration.