Letter

Washburne to Charles Pardonnet, February 10, 1873

Author

Washburne

Recipient

Charles Pardonnet

Date

February 10, 1873

Type

Letter

Language

English

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Washburne to Mr. Pardonnet.

Legation of the United States, Paris, February 10, 1873.

Sir: I have received your telegram of yesterday.

In reply, I desire to state that for the present there is nothing to be done but to submit to the order of the minister of the interior.

The action of the French government in this matter is nothing new. It has always discouraged emigration, and now that it is so anxious to retain its young men for the military service, it is especially jealous in this respect.

While I cannot doubt the right of the French government to pursue the course it has taken in this affair, I can only regret its action, and it is my purpose to bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Fish. Should he see fit to instruct me to take any action on the subject, I shall not fail to inform you of it. Without such instructions, knowing as I do the uniform action of the French government in this respect, I think it better for me not to interfere without official advice.

Very respectfully, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P.