Washburne to The Prince de la Tour d’Auvergne, August 22, 1870

Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In my dispatch No. 253, and dated the 12th instant, I spoke of an interview which was to be had that evening by Mr. Kern, the Swiss minister, Mr. Okouneff, the Russian chargé d’affaires, and myself, with M. Chevereau, minister of the interior, on the subject of the protection of the subjects of the powers at war with France.

I will now endeavor to give you a connected narration of what has taken place in regard to this matter since the date of my dispatch above alluded to.

On the 12th instant, at 6.30 p. m., Mr. Kern, Mr. Okouneff, and myself had the interview with the minister of the interior of which I spoke in my dispatch No. 253. Between the time the interview was arranged with M. Chevereau and the time it actually took place the subject of the expulsion of the Germans from Paris had been up in the corps legislatif, and for a full understanding of what was said and done there I send you a translation of the material part of the debate, marked No. 1, as copied from the official journal. I would call your attention to the language made use of in this debate by the minister of the interior, M. Chevereau. He speaks of all measures taken to expel [expulser] the foreigners in Paris. I alluded to this for the reason that Mr. Davis had requested in his telegraphic dispatch that the word “departure” should be substituted for the word “expulsion.”

Calling upon M. Chevereau, at the ministry of the interior, at the appointed hour, Mr. Kern, as being the senior minister here, stated to him the subject upon which we had desired to see him, and explained our positions in the matter. M. Chevereau remarked that when he came into office he found that the preceding ministry had, in view of the circumstances at the time, adopted the policy of refusing to allow Prussians to leave France, and had made certain provisions regulating their residence. The circumstances had, however, changed, and he found himself in the face of regulations which had no longer any “raison d’étre.” The government had, therefore, determined, with the view of both relieving itself from the presence, in the heart of the capital, of some forty thousand Prussians, and at the same time for the purpose of protecting them from the excited population of Paris, to order them in the most humane mode to leave the country. He was urged to do this in order to answer the interpellations of the corps legislatif and the general expression of public opinion as found in the journals of Paris. After a general conversation as to the effect of such action on the German population, and the hardships and misery which would result therefrom, Mr. C. said he was prepared in every way to mitigate as far as he could the harshness of the order, and that he would take pleasure in making the exceptions as numerous as possible; that any persons who could be recommended by respectable parties in their neighborhood, or who would be indorsed by the legations of Russia, the United States, and Switzerland, he would cheerfully allow to remain unmolested. At the same time, in view of the excited state of the population of Paris, he advised all who could get off to leave at once. He would endeavor to remove all difficulties in the way of departure and to make the formalities as few as possible. At my own suggestion he promised to ascertain from the prefecture of police whether it would be possible to dispense with the police visa of that office on the passports of Germans wishing to leave, and, in concert with the prefect, he would devise some expeditious mode by which the Germans could leave France on the simple visa of the different legations charged with their protection. At my further suggestion, he promised to send immediate orders to the French police agents on the frontier not to molest the Germans who had started to leave the country, even if their papers had not a proper visa. I then told the minister that I had received very recent information from the American consul at Rheims of the ill-treatment to which the German residents in that vicinity had been subjected. He gave orders that the prefect should be immediately telegraphed to consult with the American consul there, and to afford every protection possible, and also to authorize our consul to give them passes to leave the country. In conclusion, the minister said he should be glad to place himself entirely at the disposition of the representatives of Russia, the United States, and Switzerland, with the view of aiding them in removing the difficulties which he understood must surround, the position of the different peoples under their protection.

At quite an early hour the next morning Mr. Erian, one of the under secretaries of the ministry, called at the legation to state that it had been arranged with the police authorities that all of the people under my protection could leave France upon the simple visa of my legation, a form of which he gave.

As I stated in my dispatch No. 257, under date of the 15th instant, we have been giving these visas in great numbers, as well as furnishing pecuniary assistance to a smaller number in order to enable them to leave French territory.

I had the honor to receive on the 17th instant the telegraphic dispatch of Mr. Davis, containing the approval of my action in suggesting a credit to be placed at my disposition by the Prussian government to aid in removal of their poor from Paris, advising me that such a credit had been given, and instructing me to do what I could, consistent with public law and the position of our country as a neutral, to mitigate the severity of the order of “expulsion.” I also received, the day after, the telegraphic dispatch submitting the word “departure” for the word “expulsion,” which I have above alluded to.

Though I had left nothing undone in respect of the instructions contained in the telegraph dispatch of Mr. Davis above alluded to, I lost no time in seeking an interview with the Prince de la Tour d’Auvergne on the subject. After conversing in relation to some minor matters, I told the prince that the principal object for which I had sought an interview with him had relation to the position in which I found myself as charged with the protection of the subjects of several of the powers with which France was at war. I stated that the sudden determination of the French government in regard to the departure of the Germans from France had taken me by surprise, and I wanted to know if it were not possible for his Majesty’s government to change their determination in that matter. I explained to him the great distress and hardship it inflicted on thousands of peaceable, innocent, and inoffensive men, women, and children of the laboring classes, most of whom were very poor, and who came in great crowds to our legation seeking their passes and the means of getting out of France.

The minister remarked in reply that on his way from Vienna he first heard of this matter and had conceived great doubts as to the propriety of the measure, and on his arrival at Paris had so expressed himself to the Empress Regent and to the minister of interior. He had, however, yielded his first impressions upon the representations made to him by his colleague, the minister of the interior, that this measure, harsh as it was, was dictated by the pressure of circumstances; that the government could not without great concern contemplate the fact of such vast numbers of Prussians (estimated at forty thousand) residing in their midst; and that their apprehensions had become excited by the maneuvers of certain Prussians whose presence in Paris was dangerous in the highest degree; that the French population had reached a state of excitement on the subject of the residence of so many Prussians in the heart of the capital which rendered it unsafe for the latter, and placed the government under the obligation of requiring their departure for their own sake as a measure of humanity, and in view of their protection, that the government was perfectly willing and anxious to mitigate the hardship of their decree by making any exceptions in favor of persons recommended by the respectable citizens of the neighborhood, and especially in favor of any persons that the legation of the United States might designate as worthy of their protection. I remarked in reply to his excellency that Iliad received the same assurance from his colleague, the minister of the interior, who had manifested every disposition to do all in his power to mitigate the severity of the order. I told him that my position had become somewhat embarrassing, and that the difficulties, so far from diminishing, were on the increase; and that out of the mass of the Germans in Paris under my protection it was impossible for me to pass upon the separate cases of those who might desire to remain; and even if I could pass on them, yet by reason of the understanding that the order of departure was general, many unobjectionable persons, who would have been desirous of remaining in Paris and following their ordinary pursuits, considered themselves as being obliged to leave.

I said further that in carrying out the wishes and instructions of my government, I wished in the name of humanity to make an earnest appeal to the French government, through him, to revoke the order if it should be considered possible; and if that could not be done, to so modify it as to permit the larger class of Germans in Paris to remain, whose conduct could give no possible cause of complaint to the French government. His excellency then called my attention to the fact that the order of expulsion of all French subjects from Prussia having been issued by the Prussian government, no complaint could, strictly speaking, be made here against the French order, but that out of consideration for my position he was willing to entertain the subject. At the same time he stated that the French order had not been made in consequence of the order of the Prussian government as a retaliatory measure, but for the reasons he had already suggested. I then stated that I was surprised to hear him remark that the Prussian government had made an order of expulsion against French subjects, and was hardly prepared to credit it, unless he had positive knowledge that such was the fact. In confirmation of my belief I stated that I had read a telegraphic dispatch purporting to be an extract from a Berlin paper, which, referring to the expulsion of the Germans from France, expressly declared that the French subjects would not be expelled from Prussia, but would be placed under the protection of the Prussian government. In reply to these suggestions of my own, his excellency stated that he had no official knowledge of the Prussian order of expulsion, but that he understood the minister of interior as stating it as a fact which he had taken for granted in his discussion of the matter with him. He further remarked in this connection that he had personal knowledge of the arrest and imprisonment, under very aggravating circumstances, of French consular agents, who had sought his protection in Vienna, and whose cases were stamped with peculiar hardships. In concluding the conversation his excellency requested me to address him a written communication embodying my views on the subject, and stating that he would take great pleasure in using his influence to procure them a favorable reception, with a view, if possible, of bringing about some substantial modification of the order. In accordance with such request I addressed his excellency a communication, a copy of which I herewith transmit, marked No. 2.

In continuing this narrative of events, I have the honor further to state that the question of the expulsion of the Germans having again been up in the Corps Legislatif on Thursday last, and a report having been made to that body, (which was, however, referred to the minister of the interior,) recommending the expulsion, without exception and without reserve, of all of the subjects of all the powers at war with France, Mr. Kern and myself sought another interview on the subject with Mr. Chevereau, the minister of the interior, on Friday last. Mr. C. said he was aware that the report had been made to the Chamber, but that the matter was substantially in his own hands, and that there would be no aggravation of the measures which had already been taken. Mr. Kern, for himself, as well as on my behalf, explained to the minister the situation of matters, as then existing, so far as regarded the people with whose protection we were respectively charged, and the afflicting cases of hardship and suffering which we were continually compelled to witness at our legations. M. Chevereau replied that he could fully appreciate all that was said, but that the situation was the result of circumstances which could not be controlled; that the hostility of the people of Paris toward the Prussians had become intense, and that it was a matter of the safety of these people, as well as for other reasons, that they should depart as fast as possible. As a remote possibility the government might have to consider the effect of a siege of Paris, and in that event the city would be defended to the last. In the event of a siege, though scarcely possible, the situation of the Prussians finding themselves here would be deplorable beyond description; and simply as a measure of humanity, he thought they ought to leave at a time when they were able to get away and reach their own country. He expressed his determination to do everything to moderate the hostility of the Parisians toward the Germans, and to have them protected while they remained here. He also reiterated his wish to do everything in his power to facilitate their departure, and to alleviate, as far as possible, the hardships which the state of war had produced in that regard. Mr. Kern and myself both explained to him that it was impossible to make separate applications for those who wanted the permission of the government to remain in Paris, and that when people who came to us to ask our advice on the question, and who represented themselves as peaceable persons, long resident in Paris, and engaged in business which they could not leave without great sacrifices, we had advised them to remain, quietly attending to their affairs and giving no cause of complaint to the government, until they should have special notification to leave, when they should apply to us. Mr. Chevereau fully assented to that course and said there was a large class of such people whom the government had no wish to drive away. In closing the interview, Mr. Kern, in speaking for us both, said that “in making these representations in the name of the interests of the Germans whose protection is confided to us, it is well understood that the governments of the German States may urge in the future all the rights which might result from the measures taken against their subjects in France.”

Such is substantially what has taken place up to this time touching the expulsion of the German population from France. I shall endeavor to keep you fully advised of what may occur in the future.

No. 1.

The question of the expulsion of subjects of the powers at war with France came up in the Corps Legislatif, in the sitting of the 12th instant, in the nature of an interpellation by Mr. Terme. I quote from the debate as it appears in the official journal of the 13th instant:

“Mr. Terme. I demand the floor. I wish to interrogate the minister of the interior upon the measure he has taken, or proposes taking, in relation to the foreigners who belong to the powers with which we are in war, and who now reside in France. Grave facts have been signalized. They have caused considerable emotion in France. I ask that this emotion shall be calmed.

“His excellency M. Henry Chevereau, minister of the interior. Gentlemen, at the commencement of the war the government had judged it proper to prevent the Prussians from going out of France, to prevent them from joining the army of the enemy.

“M. Gambetta. You have violated the first law of patriotism.

“The Minister of the Interior. The circumstances becoming grave, and the presence of foreigners proving extremely injurious to the interests of the national defense, we have raised that interdiction. Since day before yesterday we have taken all measures to expel the foreigners who are at this moment in the capital.

“M. Cremieux. Expel, or permit to leave?

“The Minister of the Interior. It is well understood that is my thought. Day before yesterday twelve hundred Prussians left Paris. As many left last evening. The Corps Legislatif will comprehend that it is impossible in a single day to send away twenty thousand Prussians.

“The Marquis de Piennes. I will ask the minister of the interior to explain the word ‘expel,’ which he has used. It would be a serious matter, touching; humanity and civilization, to drive out of France, or even out of Paris, without distinction, all persons belonging to the nations with which we are at war.

“M. Eugène Pelletan. It is evident, from the remarks of the minister of the interior, that the government has committed two mistakes. The first is, not having permitted the Germans to leave when they asked to go. It was a violation of the rights of persons. The second will be to drive them out in the present circumstances, for certainly when foreigners have been placed under the protection of the American and English embassies, you should respect their rights of person, and cause them to be respected. The character of the war is serious enough without seeking to implicate those who have committed no fault.

“M. Clement Duvernois, minister of agriculture and commerce. The Prussians have expelled our people.

“M. Eugène Pelletan. If there are Germans at present among us who are conspiring against us, you have something else to do than expel them; you should arraign them before the councils of war; that is what justice requires, and I will say more; while I have the floor to defend the principles of civilization which should be maintained against all attacks, I will ask to put another question to the minister of the interior. There has been posted on all the walls of Paris, and in all the departments of France, a dispatch, found upon the person of a spy. I demand to know what has become of this spy, whether he has been arraigned before a council of war? We have need to know the truth concerning a fact of this nature, as it has been made use of to calumniate a great party whose patriotism is now being shown.

“The Marquis de Piennes. The question put by my honorable colleague should be examined in a double sense. The government has the right and the duty to guard against foreigners who abuse the hospitality which they find among us. It is necessary to repress severely such tendencies; but humanity and civilization would repel the measure that would strike without distinction the Germans who have long resided among us, and who, by their industry and labor, have contributed to the grandeur and prosperity of the country.

“The Minister of the Interior. I will answer to the honorable M. Pelletan, that it is evident and beyond question that a measure like this should be administered with discrimination, and where the persons are understood to be peaceable citizens as being so to speak, naturalized by long sojourn, by their habits and family ties, we have not the cruelty to expel them from France. I did not presume it was necessary to say this.

“M. Eugéne Pelletan. I can but approve for myself the answer which the minister of the interior has made. It appeared as though the expulsion en masse of all the Germans residing in France was about to be made; that would evidently have been a measure contrary to the laws of nations. But if the government intends only to expel dangerous foreigners, there is no disagreement between us.