The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-07
mo. s.)
.IIy. Russell to the Duke of Ross,,,

c. iARiS, 10th June, 1911.
oIR-l conceive it to be my duty to represent to
your eNccency that the condition, attached to the
ADMISSION OF American property in France to export
two thirds the amount in Silks attended with great
Inconvenience and loss to the American merchant
-, general requisItion to export the neat proceeds
OF imported cargoes in the produce and manufactures
OF the French empire, would have been so byiousJv
intended to favor its industry and to prevent any in
80; 80: advantage resulting to its enemy by the re
heahce OF exchange, that the right and policy of the
measure would have been universally acknowledged
ne American merchant, i'm this case permitt.d IN
,sol rom the various and abundant productions Of
INC arts ana agriculture of France, those articles
"iheh the habits and tastes of the American peonle
demanded, might freely and adyantageonsly have en-
ercised his commercial skill for the advancement or
ms interests, and hoped from the profit or mis- invest
his outward royage. VII
Inc condition., however, imposed on him to re-
ee'e TWO thirds OF these investments in bayficnlay
drfIele takes from him the faculty of proting of his
experience and information, either in bargaining for
MS purchases orin adapting them TO the wants of the
market toT winch they are intended. The holder of
tis article becomes, by this requisiton the mastar
not only OF he price, but of the kind and quality of
ms merchandize and his interest will strongly neite
INN to abuse the power which he Ses He knows
Iuii well that. the purchaser cannot dispense with
TINS merchandise, and that sooner or later he must
acesde to the terms OH witch it is offered Should
.l'"ee The American merchant, from his repugnance
20 invest his funds In an article forced upon him.
loaded with the arbitrary exactQIs of the seller re-
fuse Tor while to receive it, Vet behodinp these
funds inactive and wasting his hands, and his ves-
SCI EerishnS IN Foreign port, he must eventually
yield to the duress which he suffers.
Such are some Of the evils to which the condition
IN question will expose the American merchant in
tins country In the United States it will be by him
still more severely felt
The overstock of the article forced by this cond-
ton oil the market there, exceeding the cunsumpti-
ON, must necessarily become drug, and the Amer-
can merchant after having taken it here against his
1li and paid Tor 1t more than its ordinary Value will
be compelled in the U. States to keep it on hand or
10 sacrifice II Tor the most 1t will bring Thus alter
naey obliged to purchase and to sell under unfayor-
able circumstances, he will have to add to the losses
OF the outward voyage the losses the returns and
the sum OF them both may amount to his ruin.
These disasters of the merchant must inevitably
impair, not cxtnguish the commercial intercourse
between the two countries. This intercourse expos
ed TO the unusual peris and oppressed with unbyece
aenfea burdens, has already nothing in the voyage
hther to tempt the enterprise of mercantile men, g.
should 1t be embarrassed with the restrictions of this
condition, rendering the ho,neward voyage also I'M
profitable, it must undoubtedly cease. II in vain to
expect the continuance Of any branch of trade which
in all relations is attended with loss to those who are
engaged in il.
these observations to your Exccliency, not without
hope that consideration of them may lead to re
medy of the evils which they suggest.
pray Your Ex"ellcncy to permit to renew the
assurance, &c. &c.
(Sisned) IONA. RUSSELL
(No. o.
(Translation.)
The Minister of Foreign Relations has the honor
10 INFORM Mr.. Russell, Charge des Afaires of the u
States, that he will be happy toreccive him at any
time to day before o'clock, il it should be convent.
cnt to him.
He begs him to accept the assurance of his perfect
considerations
Paris, 18th July, 1911.