The Pastor Mr. S. Descombaz, President of the Evangelical Alliznce of Lyons to Granville Leveson-Gower, January 20, 1871

Lord Lyons to Earl Granville

My Lord: In my dispatch of the 27th ultimo I spoke of the British subjects still in Paris, and suggested that an opportunity of leaving the place should certainly be given to neutrals, if there should be any immediate danger of its being bombarded.

The bombardment has since been actually begun, and, so far as I know, without any previous notice having been given, and without any means having been afforded for neutrals to escape from the city.

I have just been informed by the Italian minister and the Spanish chargé d’affaires here that their governments have been in communication with the Prussian authorities at Berlin on the subject, and have been given reason to expect that the commanders of the German forces will allow each of them to send a diplomatic or consular officer into Paris to make arrangement for the removal of his countrymen. My two colleagues have accordingly determined to dispatch at once secretaries of their legations to Versailles and Paris for this purpose.

The French government here furnishes the secretaries with safe-conducts to secure their passing unmolested through the French lines.

I have thought it right to forward this information to your lordship as speedily as possible by telegraph.

I am, &c.,