The Right Honorable the Earl Granville to Sir Edward Odo Russell, January 23, 1871

Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell

Sir: I telegraphed to you on the 21st instant, stating that Her Majesty’s government were anxious to make arrangements for the safe withdrawal from Paris of such British Subjects as might wish to escape from the dangers to which they were exposed by the bombardment; and I requested you to inquire whether permission would be granted to a British diplomatic or consular officer to enter Paris for the purpose of making such an arrangement. I added that, if the requisite permission were granted, there were several courses open, any one of which might be adopted as might seem most expedient; either it might be advisable to send Mr. Wodehouse or Mr. Atlee from England, or a general authority might be given to Count Bernstorff to grant a pass to Versailles to any person named to him; or some Englishman might be found at Versailles or in Paris to whom the task might be confided.

The telegram which I received from you on the 22d, stating that the military authorities refused to permit any one to enter Paris until after the capitulation, made it clear that none of these courses were practicable, except, to a limited extent, that last mentioned; and I therefore telegraph to you to-day to confine yourself to endeavoring to arrange with Mr. Blount for the protection of his fellow-countrymen in Paris, and for extending to them further relief, if the sum now placed at the disposal of the charitable fund should, contrary to expectation, prove insufficient for the purpose of relieving the immediate pressure, both up to and after the capture of the city. I added that I should wish you to inform me without delay of the steps which you might take in the matter.

I am, &c.,