Office of the Historian

Mr. von Holleben to Mr. Hay.

[Translation.]
Imperial German Embassy,
Washington, March 29, 1899.

Mr. Secretary of State:

I had the honor some time ago to call your excellency’s attention verbally to the deep interest which was felt by His Majesty the Emperor, and the Imperial Government in the establishment, as speedily as possible, of direct submarine telegraphic communication between the German Empire and the United States of America. A plan relative to this matter has now been set on foot by a German company and the necessary funds have been secured. The project is in the hands of the German-Atlantic Telegraph Company, and the capital raised amounts to 20,000,000 marks. The firm of Felten & Guilleaume, which belongs to said company, has sent Mr. W. J. Spoerer to this country as its representative.

I have the honor herewith to transmit to your excellency a petition on this general subject presented in the name of the aforesaid company, from which the particulars will be seen and which will, if desired, be followed by more complete details; and I express the pleasing hope that your excellency will receive this petition with favor, and that the accomplishment of the plan will form a stronger link between the two friendly nations.

Accept, etc.,

Holleben.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Spoerer to Mr. Hay.

Arlington Hotel,
Washington, D. C., March 28, 1899.

Sir: The undersigned firm of Felton & Guilleaume, of Carlswerk, Mulheim-on-the-Rhine, Germany, for and on behalf of the Deutsch-Atlantische Telegraphen Gesellschaft (German Atlantic Telegraph Company), a corporation which has been organized under the laws of the Empire of Germany, respectfully make application to the Government of the United States of America for permission to land on the shore of the United States a submarine telegraph cable, which that company proposes to lay and operate between Borkum-Emden, in the Empire of Germany and the city of New York, touching at the Azores, the point of landing in the United States now contemplated being Coney Island, city of New York, State of New York.

I have, etc.,

Felton & Guilleaume,

By
W. J. Spoerer, Agent.