Minister Wilson to the Secretary of State.

No. 66.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of department’s No. 45, of January 19, instructing me to secure from the Belgian Government for Mr. Oscar Van der Meersch, emigration agent for the State of South Carolina, such courteous facilitation for the purposes of his mission as might be in accordance with the laws of Belgium and due to the official agent of a constituent State of the American Union.

I inclose herewith a copy of my note to the Belgian minister for foreign affairs, sent conformably to the department’s instructions, and the copy and translation of the reply thereto.

I have upon this date informed Mr. Van der Mersch of the action taken by the Belgian Government.

I have, etc.,

Henry Lane Wilson.
[Inclosure 1 to dispatch No. 66.]

Mr. Wilson to the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, February 8, 1906.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform your excellency that Oscar Van Der Meersch is at present in Belgium with a commission from the State of South Carolina, one of the constitutent States of the American Union, as a special delegate of the department of agriculture, commerce, and immigraion of said State.

I am instructed by the Department of State at Washington to request from your excellency’s Government such courteous facilitation of the purposes of the mission of Mr. Van Der Meersch as may be in accordance with the laws of Belgium.

Etc.,

Henry Lane Wilson.

[Inclosure 3 to dispatch No. 66.—Translation of inclosure No. 2.]

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the 8th, instant, by which your excellency has kindly informed me that the department of agriculture, commerce, and immigration of the State of South Carolina has a special delegate in Belgium, to furnish information to persons intending to emigrate to the said State.

My department has taken notice of this information, which it has brought to the knowledge of the competent authorities with a view of facilitating the mission intrusted to Mr. Van Der Meersch.

I believe it is useful, Mr. Minister, to annex to this note a copy of a pamphlet containing the text of the laws and regulation in matter of emigration now in force in Belgium.

Etc.,

de Favereau.

[Circular.]

To the diplomatic officers of the United States in Europe.

Gentlemen: The department is advised by the governor of South Carolina that Mr. E. J. Watson, the head of the department of agriculture, commerce, and immigration of that State, has been commissioned to proceed to Europe in the prosecution of the work with which his department is charged by the state legislature.

[Page 65]

Upon the arrival of Mr. Watson at the capital at which you reside you will inform the Government to which you are accredited of his employment and request for him such courteous facilitation of the purpose of his mission as may be in accordance with its laws and due to the official agent of a constitutent State of the American Union.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

Alvey A. Adee, Acting Secretary.