a good relation of the Government with the American insurance companies will be rendering a valuable service to the country. It might be made known, if it has not already been done, that we appreciate the sending of the commission to examine American insurance companies as an act of friendly and courteous consideration; and to inclose herewith a copy of a note which was at once addressed to the German foreign office, informing it that the subject of the readmission of the American life insurance companies to do business in Prussia is one to which the United States Government attaches great importance. JOHN B. JACKSON. I have, etc., [Inclosure in No. 989.] Mr. Jackson to Baron von Richthofen. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, The undersigned, referring to Count von Bülow's note of April 14 last, and acting under instructions from his Government, has the honor to inform Baron von Richthofen, acting secretary of state for foreign affairs, that the sending of Prussian commissioners to examine American insurance companies is appreciated as an act of friendly and courteous consideration. It is understood that these commissioners have about concluded their examination of the companies in question, and that their report will be friendly to them. It is consequently most sincerely hoped that the report will be favorably received by the appropriate authorities in Berlin, and that it may be the means of reinstating the American companies upon a solid foundation. While adding that the matter is one to which the United States Government attaches great importance, the undersigned avails himself, etc. JOHN B. JACKSON. Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay. No. 993.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to the embassy's dispatch, No. 989, of the 9th instant, I have the honor to inform you that a reply to the note which was addressed to the German foreign office on the same date has to-day been received. In this reply Baron von Richthofen assures me that as soon as the report of the Prussian commissioners is made it will be subjected to a thorough and careful examination in a most conciliatory and friendly spirit. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. Mr. Adee to Mr. White. No. 917.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 19, 1899. SIR: Referring to previous correspondence respecting the attitude of the Prussian Government toward American insurance companies, I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of a letter of the 9th instant from the superintendent of the insurance department of the State of New York, in which he advises the Department that the insurance delegates sent by Prussia to the United States, and now about to return to Germany, have had many interviews with FR 99-19 him and have made an inspection of the workings of his department. He states that he expressed to the delegates the hope that the American companies will be able to meet the requirements exacted by Prussia, in order that his department may readmit Prussian companies complying with the laws of the State of New York, and asks that you acquaint the proper Prussian authorities with the position of his department in this matter. I have, etc., [Inclosure in No. 917.] ALVEY A. ADEE, Superintendent of Insurance (State of New York) to Mr. Hay. ALBANY, August 9, 1899. SIR: Referring to the efforts of the American insurance companies ruled out of Prussia to obtain readmission, the subject of which has been a matter of correspondence between our respective departments, I have to advise that the Prussian delegates, who have been here to investigate and who are now about to return home, have had many interviews with me and have visited this department for an inspection of its workings, etc. I have heretofore said publicly, and I have repeated the same to the honorable delegates from Prussia, that this department is most anxious to reestablish the good feeling which existed several years ago between the companies of the two countries and the supervising authorities, and I trust that our insurance companies will be able to meet the requirements exacted of them, thereby enabling me to admit or readmit all Prussian insurance companies complying with the laws of this State. Trusting that the position of this department may be communicated through your department to the Prussian authorities, I have, etc., LOUIS F. PAYN, Superintendent of Insurance. Mr. White to Mr. Hay. No. 1013.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, today, of the Department's instruction No. 917, of the 19th ultimo, and to inform you that a copy of Superintendent Payn's letter in regard to the readmission of the American life insurance companies to do business in Prussia and of the Prussian companies to do business in the State of New York, has been communicated to Minister Count von Bülow for such use as he may see fit to make of the same. At the same time the embassy has expressed its thanks for the assurance given in Baron Richthofen's note of August 14 (dispatch No. 993, August 15, 1899), and has again called attention to the fact that the United States Government attaches great importance to the satisfactory settlement of the question concerned, at an early date. Referring to previous correspondence, I have the honor to inform you that the Prussian commissioners have now returned to Berlin, but as it is understood that they are to take a vacation before resuming work in the ministry of the interior, and as the minister himself, Baron von der Recke, is actually on leave, it is not likely that the report will be considered for several weeks. At the same time the fact is worthy of attention that the newspapers are beginning to refer to the probability that the Imperial insurance bill (dispatch No. 633, November 28, 1898) will be introduced in the Reichstag soon after it reassembles in November. The text of this bill has been freely discussed by the various chambers of commerce and other similar bodies, and by the press throughout Germany, but it is thought probable that the text of the bill, when introduced, will not differ materially from that of the draft published about nine months ago. I have, etc., ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 1058.] Mr. White to Mr. Hay. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: On Saturday, October 28, I cabled you as follows: "New York Life Insurance Company to-day readmitted to the Empire. Everything very satisfactory; dispatch follows," and on Sunday, the 29th, I received from you the following: "The New York Life Insurance Company has cabled this Department to-day that its application for admission has been favorably acted upon. The company expresses its obligation to you for favorable assistance received in connection with its application, and we desire that you should express to the Prussian minister of the interior our satisfaction with the action taken and the favorable adjustment of the insurance question by the insurance authorities." I shall, as soon as possible, call on the imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs and express the feelings of our Government regarding the above matters, with especial mention of the minister of the interior, and shall take the first occasion, as instructed by you, to renew to the latter the expression of the same feeling. I am, etc., Mr. White to Mr. Hay. ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 1060.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report that on Tuesday last, that being the weekly reception day at the foreign office, I called on Count von Bülow and found that he was absent and that Mr. von Derenthall was in charge. Pursuant to your instructions I expressed to him the especial satisfaction of our Government at the readmission to the Empire of the New York Life Insurance Company, and gave him to understand that we earnestly hoped that the negotiations regarding other companies may be equally successful. I also, pursuant to the same instructions, requested him to make this feeling on the part of our Government known to the Prussian minister of the interior, Mr. von Rheinbaben. I also took the occasion to express the satisfaction of the Administration and of the American people generally at the reception which was given by the Emperor and the imperial chancellor to ex-President Harrison and Mrs. Harrison during their stay here. I am, etc., Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay. ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 1067.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to Mr. White's dispatches, Nos. 1058 and 1060, of the 31st utlimo and 3d instant, respectively, I have the honor to inform you that I made a formal call upon his excellency Baron von Rheinbaben, the new Prussian minister of the interior, this afternoon, in order to make his acquaintance. The conversation turned almost at once to the insurance question, and I communicated to the minister the contents of your telegram of October 28, by which he seemed much pleased. He told me that the question of the Mutual Life Insurance Company was now under consideration, and the local representative of that company (as I already knew) had been notified of the fact. He also inquired about the Equitable Company in general, and in particular as to the relative standing of the three great life insurance companies of New York. I told him that it would be hard to say which company was the best; that the Equitable, Mutual, and New York were generally considered as of about the same standing; that all were looked on as financially safe; that the United States Government had as much interest for one as another; and that it hoped that the readmission of the New York would soon be followed by that of the Mutual. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. Mr. Hay to Mr. Jackson. No. 971.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 27, 1899. SIR: Referring to your dispatch, No. 1067, of the 8th instant, relative to your conversation with Baron von Rheinbaben in regard to the three New York life insurance companies, I have to inform you that the Department fully approves of the discreet manner in which you communicated to the minister the contents of its telegram of the 28th ultimo. I have the honor, by direction of the Imperial Government, to inform your excellency most respectfully that the American New York Life Insurance Company, of New York, has, by an order of the royal Prussian ministry of the interior of the 1st instant, been again permitted to do business in Prussia. In this connection I have the honor to remark that I have this day received a telegram from the president of the New York Life Insurance Company stating that the Prussian fire insurance companies are again permitted to do business in the State of New York. I am sure that my Governmeut will be very much gratified by this friendly act. Accept, etc., Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay. HOLLEBEN. No. 1091.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you of the receipt, this morning, of the following telegram: I have pleasure in advising you that the Prussian fire insurance companies have been this day (November 28) readmitted to this State. John A. McCall, president, New York Life Insurance Company. and to inform you that I at once called at the German foreign office and showed the same to Baron Richthofen, who is still in charge. Baron Richthofen expressed great satisfaction at the information, which had also just been communicated to him from the German embassy at Washington, and assured me that he hoped that it might soon be found possible to readmit the Mutual Life Insurance Company to Prussia. I subsequently called on Baron Rheinbaben, the Prussian minister of the interior, who had received a telegram similar to that received by the embassy, and he asked me to express to the proper authorities his most sincere thanks for their action in this matter. He, too, spoke of the pending application of the Mutual Company, and expressed a hope that it would be possible to come to an agreement which would permit the readmission of that company. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. No. 351.] Mr. Hay to Mr. von Holleben. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 29, 1899. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor as well as the pleasure to advise you that I have received information from the president of the New York Life Insurance Company that the Prussian fire insurance companies have been readmitted to transact business in the State of New York. This information I have also communicated to the embassy of the United States at Berlin by telegraph to-day. Accept, etc., JOHN HAY. |