Mr. Bartlett to Mr. Seward.
No. 23.]
Legation of the United States,
Stockholm,
October 9, 1868.
Sir: The subject of Norwegian Finmark is, with
the Swedish government, one of continual anxiety and jealous
watchfulness. Their great neighbor, Russia, who has wrenched from them
Finland, now only awaits the color of an excuse, as their fears argue,
to grasp that belt of land lying north of Russian Lapmark, and extending
west to the open sea. This acquisition of territory would give to Russia
large accessible harbors, free from ice the whole year, on the northwest
coast of Norway. The nomadic tribes of Russian Laps, in considerable
numbers, cross the border every spring with their reindeer herds to seek
the better feeding grounds of Norwegian Finmark. The fishermen also sail
to the Norwegian fiords and pursue their calling by the side of the
Norwegians. This has been so long permitted by the government of Norway,
that it is not surprising that it should now be demanded as a right.
Last year, however, they attempted to put some restrictions upon the
encroachments of the Laps, both on sea and land, which, I believe, were
not very successful, but led to many collisions between the stranger
tribes and the natives. At that time the Swedish papers pursued the
subject with a bitterness of hatred towards Russia, which seems to have
been augmented rather than diminished by the lapse of time since their
loss of Finland. I believe it is the general impression among the Swedes
that Russian agents are constantly on the ground stimulating the tribes
to further aggression, and reporting to their government the need of
protection.
You will observe by this statement that anything bearing upon this
question in the remotest degree is eagerly seized upon by the press and
argued into an approaching reality of their long-nourished fears.
[Page 102]
The subject has been recently again brought before the public by the
press, and it appears that I am one of the innocent causes. During the
months of June and July I made the voyage to the head of the Gulf of
Bothnia, and thence by land to Över Törnea, for the purpose of seeing
the midnight sun from the mountain Aversaxsa. On my return I left the
steamer at one of the northern ports, and traveled inland through Sweden
back to Stockholm. The Swedish journals professed themselves at first
flattered by my desire to see so much of the country that all Swedes
love with an ardor I have never seen equaled outside my own. But, a few
weeks ago they had, it appears, discovered the real object of my
journey. I had, it seems, advised my government that in order to make
the alliance between the United States and Russia more effective in case
of war, it was absolutely necessary that Russia should have the ports on
the northwest coast of Norway. (Inclosure No. 1, translation from the
Aftonbladet, Stockholm, August 18, 1868.) Later, one of the journals of
the interior, I was told, made the discovery that the Emperor of all the
Russias did not cede the open ports of Russian America to the United
States without having in return a bond securing to him their assistance
to get ice-free ports on the Norwegian coasts.
I at first paid no attention to these attacks; but after considering with
how much jealousy not only the government, but all the people, viewed
this subject in whatever form it might be presented to them, I decided
to call the attention of Count Wachtmuster, the minister of state and
foreign affairs, to the articles mentioned, and assured him that so far
as they concerned myself, they were the ridiculous inventions of
sensation writers, and that I at first thought I would give them no
attention; but upon considering how many people whom I would daily meet
might believe them, to the detriment of my government and of my
influence here, I had decided to call his attention to the subject, and
leave him to deal with it in the manner he should consider most proper
towards my government. His excellency, who had never believed, in the
truth of the articles, said he would officially deny them in the
official paper of the following day. I inclose (No. 2) the translation
of the denial in the Post Och Inrikes Tidningar, Stockholm, August 24,
1868. I also inclose (No. 3) a translation of an article which appeared
in the Aftonbladet September 15, 1868, which is in every way
corroborative of the fact that even tourists, of whatever nationality,
may be subject to such attacks in connection with Norwegian Finmark. The
Prussian officer alluded to in inclosure No. 3 is General
Schweinitz.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
No. 1.
[Translation from the Aftonbladet,
Stockholm, August 18,
1868.]
One word to call the attention, we will not say to the Scandinavian
interest, but to the interest of Europe, in that question which does
not date from yesterday, for one may call it an old petition
annulled in all jurisdictions.
The ports of the extreme north on the Norwegian coast do not freeze
in winter, thanks to the gulf stream. Now Russia, as the celebrated
Kalkof paper says, with a vigorous appetite, unknown in tradition
since the time of Agres, has no port with good anchorage which is
not closed by ice six months in the year: She has every interest,
therefore, in procuring one upon good conditions, and at our
expense, because she would quickly make it into another Cronstadt,
from whence she could at all seasons of
[Page 103]
the year dart forth and threaten the commerce
of France and England. “Now these two powers,” the same paper adds,
and appears to be astonished, “have always cried stop, to their
project, and a singular fatality has prevented Russia, since Peter
I, from putting her hands upon a position which might be at the same
time a bridge of civilization (?) and a clearing port.” (Here the
interrogation mark is useless.)
It must be mentioned that according to a rumor which has not been
denied, the American minister at Stockholm called the attention of
his government to the necessity of aiding Russia, who cannot at her
ease prey upon the commerce of England and France.
Respecting Denmark, the confessions of the Russian papers are, if
possible, still more void of craft. “That mutilated country can no
longer have an independent existence.” says the Golos; “its fate is
alone in the hands of Prussia and Russia; France has nothing to do
with it.” As for England, no mention is made of her.
In truth, to offer for sale the bear-skin still alive, is an habitual
custom of Russia; but the bear who by passing sees his fur
advertised, will do well to hold himself notified.
No. 2.
[Translation from the Post Och
Inrikes Tidningar, Stockholm, August 24,
1868.]
In the Aftonbladet, August 18, 1868, it is stated that the United
States minister at Stockholm called the attention of his government
to the necessity of assisting Russia in acquiring a port in Norway.
According to what we learn, from good source, this statement is
without foundation.
No. 3.
[Translation from the Aftonbladet,
Stockholm, September 15,
1868.]
Speaking of Norway, and of the visit the royal family are about to
make there, is it not worth while to speak of a personage of whom
every step is traced as if it were a question of a crowned head? It
may be simply a question of an inoffensive tourist, who has the
mania to go about with a pseudo-Roman casque which you
recognize.
However the case may be, the doings and movements of General S. is
the whole subject of preoccupation. And this gives an opportunity to
renew that important question of Norwegian Finmark—of that band of
land which so much tempts Russia on account of those excellent ports
there, which the ice in winter does not close. We touch again upon
this subject the more for the reason that in the documents to which
we have recourse, the fears are founded in a very clear, and,
unfortunately, in a very plausible manner.
That one may profit by the question of nationality, and make use of
it to put in practice the fable of the lists and its companion, the
history of Sleswig superabundantly proves. Now, we have every reason
to believe that in Finmark Russia thinks of following this example.
Unfortunately an appearance of pretext appears to show itself. For
instance, among the population spread over that district are found
from 5,000 to 6,000 Quaines, belonging to the same nationality as
the inhabitants of Russian Finland, and who evidently came from that
province. Add also the nomad tribes, who, during the summer, pass
into the Norwegian territory to feed their reindeer, and a large
number of Russian fishermen who come to take advantage of the
Norwegian fiords, and you succeed in grouping a small population
that Russia might think herself obliged to protect. That numerous
collisions take place between the natives and the strangers is
natural, as well as that the latter are not always in the wrong.
Many times it has been proved that the Russian authorities have
shown a very great zeal in receiving complaints of their nationals.
Genuine documents have been seen in their hands, and it is useless
to add that agents are not wanting to them to observe and note the
facts on the spot.
Here is the serious side of the question. A day may come when Russia
will say, a part of the population (it is always the greater part
for those precious statisticians who make statistics on cannon
carriages) is composed of many nationals, therefore this territory
is Russian. They are oppressed, therefore I come to protect them. As
for these agents, and their manner, more or less open, of
proceeding, that is a secondary matter. Last year a voyage very long
and trying was undertaken by Mr. Mechelin, Russian consul at
Christiana, on the border of Norway and Russia, which attracted
anxious attention. Why did she awake on the subject of the
excursion, probably quite innocent of an ex-Prussian general
ornamented with a casque? It is said he was stationed a long time in
regions like Sont Varanger, where tourists are rare if any were
[Page 104]
ever seen, and that he
announced himself as come to study the military architecture of
which Finmark ought not to offer many models, and from thence he
went to the regatta at Stavenger. It was said that he met then the
Russian consul-general at Christiana, but this last has just been
contradicted. Nevertheless a number of ingenious conjunctions which
may have no more foundation than this pretended meeting.
Though we make no note of persons, the question of Russian Finmark
exists. It is very grave, and ought to call the serious attention of
publicists.
