The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-19
Mr.. Wasl,burne and

Mr.. Washburne and the Commune.
The following letter appeared In the London
Times OF July 8, addressed TO the editor Of that
paper:-
~ The Times Of Monday last contains letter from
Versailles which OK os, no doubt most JUSTLY the
conduct Of the Secretary charged with tho drecuon
Of the British Legation at Paris during the trying
times OF the Commune, and then adds, unlortu-
nately, "that this conduct OF Mr.. Maet In
striking cnotraast TO that Of the chief Of an I'M
pOrtant Legation. who was notoriously In sympathy
for granted applies TO Mr.. Washburne. and
l write to you FOR the ,, purpose OF assuring
f frary, notorionsiy smpasnized with the ' gov
seIicai!1 from arst 70 last the acts and the
journal OF limited circulation IubIIsnod the
statement that Mr.. washourne was frenaly
letter sr had BEEN ioSni IN the papers Of Pas.
cbai Grousset Delegate Of the Commune at
tho former to tho latter, Hon caer anl," and prom
tsmg certain Information which 1t was supposed was
the gravity Of the Charge the fiiends OF MIR. wash
burne did not think Necessary to contradict It, be-
cause OF lis improbabliy, and because the paper In
time, however, that explanation should be made
and the excuse for taking up yodr space Is all the
strange events through which we have just passed.
During the Commune and after the signing OF tho
Prussia Mr.. washburne was 'I Instructed Sy the
Prussian Government not TO allow any Alsauan or
Lorralner to be taken by the Commune for m ltary
services against his will. Tho immediate effect OF
this order was that the American Legation was be-
sieged every day by hundreds OF Fredchmen belong
ing, or claiming to belong TO the coded provinces.
and who In order to escape the service o. the CAM
mune, sought to place themselves under
as g OF ne sersn and as BE- s
h had no no., right 70 the protection Asked for.
WIN these crowds OF new born subjects Of Prussia
managing to get into PRISON, with his own people
VINO were not always as discreet perhaps as they
legations with which he renamed charged. Mr..
Washburnc's relations-0r. should say, forced rea-
nonsnwfn the Commune were daily and uninter-
points in the case he careful that ali his COM
IN shoulc be made verbally through one
natiOnaiitles he was obliged daily to extract from
ton OF the property Of ncutrals, the business was
always transacted verbally by an agent whose per-
son was soon well known 70 all the officials OF the
One day. however Paschal Grosset who, 1t seems
contemplated marriage with a young woman be.
longing 70 an old French family at Louis. Mo-.
the district OF the country from which Mr.
Washnurne comes. wrote a letter to the latter
this letter. which was polite note entirely outside OF
all public business, Mr.. wasnDurne replied in Eng.
sir-l think l can obtain Tor you the information
you desire, and when obtained Will forward 1t
10 "scn wss tbs letter tina. was found
served as tine foundation for all the reports about
Mr. WasnDurne8 sympathy for the Commune. Tho
Paris editor converted "Dear STR, into My dear
fnen l." and supposed the information IN question
to be something contraoand
There could bc no misunderstanding In the matter
for any ono VINO Kept himself advised OF the acts Of
the C0nlmune for Mr.. Washburne has too often
been In litigation with 1t and too often denounced
by 1t 10 be one OF It's friends. Twice during tho
last month VI tho Commune he was obliged,
on the authority OF the Prussian government,
TO threaten IL with march oil the Prussian army
on Paris WITHIN twenty-four hours II II did not In
one case give up ms private residence, which u had
invaded. and In the other case deliver up to him