Von Bismarck to Jules Armand Farre, September 26, 1870

Count de Bismarck to Mr. Jules Farre

Mr. Minister: In reply to the note which I have this day had the honor to receive from your excellency, I regret to say that military considerations forbid me to make any communications with regard to the time and manner of the approaching assault upon the fortress of Paris.

The permission of correspondence from and with a besieged fortress is not usual according to the rules of warfare, and although we will willingly permit the transmission of open letters of diplomatic agents, I cannot share the opinion of those who regard the interior of the fortifications of Paris during a siege as a proper central point of diplomatic intercourse. This view of the case seems to be shared by the neutral governments whose agents have removed to Tours.

Receive, &c.,