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commerce to remain in their ports more than 24 hours, and, when steamers, not to be furnished with more than 24 hours' supply of fuel, that, while 1 receive the announcement with satisfaction, it is qualified by deep regrets at the position his Majesty's government has thought proper to take in placing the misguided persons in rebellion against the United States on a footing of equality, in a most important respect, with the government to which they owe obedience; for, though the orders in question deny shelter and aid to pirates, it is impossible to regard with complacency the fact that the exclusion operates equally against the vessels of the United States, denying to them that accustomed hospitality ever accorded by friendly nations.

"Abstaining, however, now as heretofore, from any discussion on this topic while awaiting the reply of my government to your communication of the 17th of September, I will only add that I feel assured the United States government will fully share these regrets, and I can only hope will not impeach my expressions of satisfaction at the orders which you inform me have been given in accordance with the rule of action laid down in that paper, notwithstanding the position falls so far short of that which the United States have confidently expected Holland would occupy on this question. "I pray, &c., &c.

"Baron VAN ZUYLEN, &c., &c.

I have had the honor to receive your despatch of the 4th of October, (No. 24,) relative to the Sumter at Paramaribo, to which subject I have already given my attention.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, JAMES S. PIKE.

Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

No. 28.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 30, 1861.

SIR: Your despatch of October 9 (No. 20) has been received. We wait with much interest the result of your application to the government of the Netherlands for explanations of the hospitalities extended by its colonial authorities to privateers.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JAMES S. PIKE, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

No. 29.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 2, 1861.

SIR: Your despatch of October 12 (No. 22) has been received. I learn with much pleasure that you have assurances which, although informal, lead you to expect that a satisfactory course will be adopted by his Majesty's

government in regard to the exclusion of privateers from the ports of the Netherlands. Awaiting with some solicitude more definite information,

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SIR: I duly received your despatch (No. 25) of the 10th of October, but have nothing by the last mail. I await your response to the communication of Mr. Van Zuylen of the 17th of September last.

I have the honor to enclose you the reply of the minister of foreign affairs to my note of the 22d of last month, a copy of which I forwarded to you in my last.

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I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

JAMES S. PIKE.

Mr. Van Zuylen to Mr. Pike.

[Translation.]

THE HAGUE, October 29, 1861.

SIR: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 22d of this month, relative to the affair of the "Sumter," and it has been gratifying to me to learn from its tenor that you have received with satisfaction the information as to the measures adopted by the government of the Low Countries to prevent the return or the prolonged stay in its ports of vessels which, like the "Sumter," seemed to desire to use them as the base of their operations against the commerce of the adverse party.

You regret only that the government of the King should have adopted the same treatment towards the war vessels of the seceding States and those of the United States.

Without entering here into an extended discussion, rendered, moreover, almost superfluous by my two preceding communications, I shall merely permit myself, sir, in referring to their contents, to cause you to observe that, agreeably to the doctrine of the best publicists, neutrality imposes upon those nations which desire to enjoy its benefits a complete abstention from all that could establish a difference of treatment between the belligerent parties, and that this principle applies as well to the cases of civil war, or even of rebellion, as to that of an ordinary war.

Ex. Doc. 1-25

Your government having desired that measures should be taken to prevent a prolonged stay in our ports of the Sumter, or of other vessels-of-war of the seceding States, we have admitted the justice of this claim. But these measures could not reach exclusively one of the two parties; they were to be general, and the consequence of it is that the new instructions given to the governors of Curaçoa and of Surinam neither permit the vessels-of-war of the United States, except in the case of being compelled to put into a port, to sojourn in the ports of the Netherlands, in the West Indies, for a longer time than twice 24 hours, (and not for only 24 hours, as you seem to believe.) Nevertheless, the privateers, with or without their prizes, are, as heretofore, excluded from the Netherland ports, and it is by an oversight, which I hasten to rectify, that the words " and the privateers" have been introduced into that part of my communication of the 15th of this month which calls your attention to the instructions transmitted to the colonial authorities. Be pleased, sir, to accopt the renewed assurance of my high consideration. DE ZUYLEN DE NIJEVELT.

Mr. PIKE,

Minister Resident of the United States of America.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

No. 31.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 11, 1861.

SIR: Your despatch No. 24, dated October 23, has been received. I learn from it that the government of the Netherlands has made an order which will, it is hoped, practically prevent the recurrence of such countenance and favor to pirates in the ports of that state as we have heretofore complained of. You will express to Baron Zuylen our satisfaction with this proceeding, viewed in that light, but you will be no less explicit in saying that this government by no means assents to the qualifications affecting its claims as a sovereign power upon the Netherlands by which the proceeding is qualified.

Not only are we not seeking occasions for difference with any foreign powers, but we are, on the other hand, endeavoring to preserve amity and friendship with them all, in a crisis which tries the magnanimity of our country. Influenced by these feelings, I can only hope that no new injury or disrespect to our flag may occur in the ports of the Netherlands, to bring the action of their government again under review by us.

I am directed by the President to express his approval of the diligence and discretion you have practiced in this important transaction.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JAMES S. PIKE, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

No. 32.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 11, 1861.

SIR: Your despatch of October 16 (No. 23) has been received. It con

tains the reply of Mr. de Zuylen to the note you had addressed to him on the subject of the "Sumter" at Paramaribo.

In another paper I have already communicated the President's views of the disposition of that subject made by the government of the Netherlands, so that nothing remains to be said on the subject which you have had occasion to discuss in the despatch now before me.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

No. 33.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 23, 1861.

SIR: Your despatch of November 6 (No. 25) has just been received. I have already anticipated and disposed of the principal subject which it presents.

Felicitate the government of the Netherlands as we felicitate ourselves on the renewed auguries of good and cordial relations between friends too old to be alienated thoughtlessly, or from mere impatience.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JAMES S. PIKE, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

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