The Chancellor of the Confederation, to G. Harrington, May 12, 1868

The High Federal Council to Mr. Harrington.

The federal council thinks proper to inform monsieur the resident minister of the United States to the Swiss Confederation, that it has communicated the original and the translation of the note which Mr. Harrington has addressed it on the 2d instant, concerning the complaint of Mr. Nisbet against the guides Rouiller and Pierroz, to the government of the canton of Valais, inviting it to communicate this reply to the authorities who have acted in this matter, leaving it to the care of taking the measures which it may judge proper.

The federal council has also added that it thinks it would be for the interest of the country to verify how far the having omitted to give a hearing to many eye-witnesses may be confirmed, and to ascertain the motives of that omission, as well as to determine upon what may appear necessary under the circumstances.

Finally, the federal council has stated to the government of Yalais that it expects a report upon the measures taken and their results.

The federal council will, then, probably have occasion to make further communications on this subject to monsieur the resident minister of the United States of America, and, meanwhile, it has the honor to renew to Mr. Harrington the assurances of its high consideration.

In the name of the federal council, the president of the Confederation,