SOLD U.S. Grant Makes Official a Treaty Establishing Relations With the New German Empire

Germany before unification had been a hodgepodge of small states, at one time numbering around 300. Over the years, many of these states ceased to exist, while others were created through divisions among ruling families. By the time of the Napoleonic Wars, the number had been reduced considerably, but was still around 100. Prussia was the foremost of those but had been by no means dominant.

In the 1860’s, led by the Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, Prussia began to impose order on this chaos as a number of the states signed conventions subordinating their armed forces to the Prussian Army. Some, like Bavaria, retained a fair amount of autonomy, but others, especially the smaller states, were completely integrated into the Prussian fold. Then came the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 that signaled the rise of German nationalism and resulted in a unified Germany. The German Empire was proclaimed in January 1871 and set about establishing diplomatic relations and the attendant embassies and consulates with the nations of the world.

On December 2, 1872, President Grant transmitted his State of the Union message to Congress. Addressed “To the Senate and House of Representatives”, he reported on the settlement of the last territorial dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain, which had been arbitrated by Kaiser Wilhelm I. “His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, having been pleased to undertake the arbitration, has the earnest thanks of this Government and of the people of the United States for the labor, pains, and care which he has devoted to the consideration of this long-pending difference.” The President proceeded to denounce the continuation of slavery in Cuba and discussed important Latin American affairs. He also covered the subject of treaties, informing Congress that “Since my last annual message the exchange has been made of the ratifications of a treaty with the Austro-Hungarian Empire relating to naturalization; also of a treaty with the German Empire respecting consuls and trade-marks; also of a treaty with Sweden and Norway relating to naturalization; all of which treaties have been duly proclaimed.”

Document Signed as President, Washington, Jan. 26, 1872, an order that the Secretary of State affix“the Seal of the United States to my ratification of a Convention with the German Empire relating to Consular Matters and Trade-marks…" Thus became official the very treaty with Germany that Grant thought important enough to mention in his State of the Union message. We believe it to have been the first American treaty with the united Germany.