Mr. Runyon to Mr.
Olney.
Embassy
of the United States,
Berlin, August 22, 1895.
(Received September 4.)
No. 345.]
Sir: I have the honor to report the receipt of
the following cipher telegram from the Department of State yesterday:
Runyon, Ambassador, Berlin:
Department informed that the Prussian Government on 16th instant,
in advance of expected discussion, revoked concession Mutual
Life Insurance Company, to take effect September 1. If this
report be correct, you are instructed strongly to represent
injustice of proceeding in view of our previous representations
and of the willingness of company to confine business in Prussia
to plans approved by the Government.
Adee, Acting.
In accordance with the instructions thereby given, I without delay asked
Baron Marschall von Bieberstein, the Imperial secretary of state for
foreign affairs, for an interview in reference to the subject, which he
accorded immediately.
In the conversation, which was of considerable length, I made strong
representations against the proceedings referred to in the instruction.
I had previously—on the day before—taken occasion to bring the subject
before him, but at that time was without instructions from the State
Department on that particular head. I may remark that in the previous
interview which, under instructions, I had at the foreign office as to
the company (report of which has already been made), Baron von Marschall
was not in charge, but was absent on his vacation. In the conversation
yesterday he at once promised to take up the matter, and I have reason
to expect that he will without delay examine into and consider it.
On the same day after my interview I sent to Baron von Marschall the note
(a copy of which is inclosed) which I had in course of preparation when
his reply to my request for an interview was received.
I have, etc.,
[Page 441]
[Inclosure in No. 345.]
Mr. Runyon to
Baron Marschall von
Bieberstein.
Embassy of the United States of America,
Berlin, August 21, 1895.
The undersigned, ambassador, etc., of the United States of America,
has the honor to inform his excellency Baron Marschall von
Bieberstein, imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, that
on or about June 27 last, acting in accordance with instructions
from his Government, he presented to the imperial foreign office the
representations of The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York
with regard to certain requirements made of it by the Prussian
authorities under penalty, on noncompliance, of withdrawal of the
concession granted to the company to do business in Prussia. To the
memorandum then left with the foreign office, which contains a
statement of the matter, the undersigned begs to refer. Subsequently
and on the 9th of July last another communication was made to the
foreign office by the embassy on the same subject, to which, also,
reference is hereby made.
The undersigned is informed that the representatives of the company,
its counsel and actuary, who came from the United States and who
were anxious to be heard in behalf of the company in order that they
might if possible prevent the withdrawal of the concession, made
application to his excellency Mr. von Koller, the Prussian minister
of the interior, for such hearing. On the 7th of July last the
following reply was sent them:
“His excellency Minister von Koller directs that the following answer
to your telegram of yesterday’s date be sent: ‘Privy Counsellor von
Knebel enters upon his leave of absence within a few days and will
return to Berlin on the 18th of August next. It rests with you to
acquaint Mr. von Knebel during his absence with the necessary facts
or to await his return to Berlin.’”
The undersigned is informed that on receipt of this communication the
representatives of the company referred to informed the office of
the minister of the interior of Prussia, in substance, that they
were at the disposition of Mr. von Knebel and would go anywhere to
see him. Receiving no reply to this, they waited, expecting to see
him after his return on the 18th of August. On the 16th of August
they, to their great surprise, received a notice dated the 14th of
that month, that the concession was revoked and that the company
must do no new business in Prussia after the 1st day of September
next. It will be seen that, according to the foregoing statement,
the company had a right to believe that the desired opportunity to
present this subject to the authorities, which its representatives
had anxiously sought, would be accorded and that they would be heard
in its behalf in this matter of so great importance to its
interests, on the return of Mr. von Knebel to Berlin. On the
contrary, however, an order withdrawing the concession was, without
hearing them, made two days before the time fixed for his
return.
The undersigned, under instructions from his Government, represents
to his excellency the injustice of the proceeding complained of,
especially in view of the representations heretofore made, above
referred to, and of the expressed willingness of the company to
confine its business in Prussia to such plans as the Government will
approve.
The undersigned respectfully asks his excellency’s immediate
attention to the subject, to the end that the order revoking the
concession may be withdrawn, and avails himself of the occasion to
renew to his excellency the assurance of his most distinguished
consideration.