[Extracts.]
Mr. Clay to Mr.
Seward
No. 31.]
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, Russia,
November 17, 1863.
Sir: Your despatch No. 41 is received; also the
copy of Consul Phelps’s letter. In obedience to your instructions I have
called the attention of the minister of foreign affairs to the subject,
and asked his good offices in suppressing all such enterprises, if there
are any. * * * The assisting, directly or indirectly, the English to fit
out war vessels to be employed by the “Confederate States” against the
United States, would be a violation of neutrality, for the very act
carries proof of the unfriendly intention, and would make all aiders and
abettors guilty of an illegal act, no matter when or by whom it might be
consummated. But Mr. Phelps don’t pretend to give any proof of such
acts, or even the names of such persons; and of course the imperial
government can have no base of action. In truth, I don’t believe that
any such attempts as fitting out war vessels are being made here; and if
they are, England, where the vessels are
[Page 279]
said to be building, is the place to detect them.
Of course no one would voluntarily avow such criminal designs, if they
were entertained.
I am, truly, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C., U. S. of A.
P. S.—I enclose you a copy of my note to Prince Gortchacow, as a part
of this despatch.
C. M. CLAY.
Mr. Clay to Prince Gortchacow
No. 26.]
Legation of the United State of
America,
St. Petersburg,
November 4 and 6,
1863.
The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of
the United States of America, has the honor to enclose to his
excellency Prince Gortcshacow, vice-chancellor and minister of
foreign affairs, &c., &c., a copy of a letter from the
United States consul at St. Petersburg, E. D. Phelps, esq., to the
Secretary of State at Washington, to which he is instructed to call
the attention of the Russian government.
The allegations are too indefinite in character and proof to provoke
any discussion; and the American minister, relying upon the
friendship of his imperial Majesty, prefers to put himself upon the
good offices of his excellency rather than upon the neutrality which
the laws of nations might seem to demand, to prevent the Russian
subjects from trespassing upon the rights of the American Union, by
these sales or purchases.
The undersigned believes that he has only to advise his excellency of
these unfriendly enterprises, which are rumored to be on foot, in
order to cause their prompt suppression if true.
The American minister avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency Prince Gortchacow assurances of his most distinguished
regard.
