No. 522.
Mr. Jewell
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
St. Petersburg,
February 17, 1874. (Received March 11.)
No. 44.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the
Emperor of Austria arrived here on Friday. Since then the Court has been
constantly employed in amusing and entertaining him.
[Page 812]
The diplomatic corps was presented to him yesterday. At a military dinner
given on Sunday, the Emperor Alexander drank to the health of the Emperor of
Austria, as follows: “I drink to the health of my friend the Emperor Francis
Joseph, whom we are glad to see among us. In the friendship which unites us
both with the Emperor William and with Queen Victoria, I see the truest
guarantee of peace in Europe, which is so desired by all and so
indispensable’to all.” To this the Emperor of Austria replied: “Filled with
gratitude for the friendly reception which has been shown me here, and
sincerely sharing the convictions and feelings which have been expressed by
my august friend, I drink to the health of His Majesty the Emperor, Her
Majesty the Empress, and all the august house. May God’s blessing be on
them.”
There is no doubt that the visit of the Austrian Emperor, the first since the
time of Joseph II, has important meaning for the peace of Europe, in
bringing closer together the two nations of Russia and Austria, which have
had unpleasant relations since the time of the Crimean war. As an ambassador
said to me yesterday: “If Germany, England, Russia, and Austria are
determined that there shall be peace in Europe, who will dare to make war?”
As a sign of the complete reconciliation of the two countries, the Russian
minister at Vienna and the Austrian minister here have been both raised to
the rank of ambassador.
The tone of the press is very friendly. There is much self-congrat illation
that so many sovereigns and heirs to thrones have been in St. Petersburg
during the past year, evidently with the sole intention of seeing the
Emperor as there was no exposition, or other extraneous event to bring them
so far. After recounting in some detail the former good relations between
Russia and Austria, which were of advantage to both countries, the journals
all express delight at the present reconciliation, and the hope that the
renewed friendship will long endure. All speak of the effect on the Eastern
question.
I have the honor to inclose to you translations of extracts from the leading
articles of the chief newspapers on this subject. I am informed by good
authority that the Emperor of Russia will go in the spring to Wurtemburg for
the marriage of his niece, and, after spending a few days at Brussels and
the Hague, will make a formal visit to Queen Victoria, arriving in London in
May.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
44.—Translation.]
From the Golos, February 1–13, 1874.]
So far we have only looked at the profit which Austria will obtain from
its alliance with us, but this alliance seems to us so much the more
firm, as its profit will evidently be mutual. Besides the fact that our
western boundary will be again quite protected by the neighborhood of
two friendly governments, and that we can be perfectly at our ease in
the near future, wirich, in all probability, does not threaten us with
difficulties from any side or any quarter, our alliance with Austria to
a great degree simplifies the position of the Eastern question.
While formerly, in Turkey, the interests of Russia were opposed by the
interests of France and England, of late the part in the Eastern
question of the two western powers has been laid claim to by Austria.
Her statesmen have tried to support in the vassal provinces of Turkey,
and among those of her subjects who have the same religion and the same
blood as we, an opposition to and suspicion of Russian policy. It is the
[Page 813] affair of Austria to
decide how far this policy has been profitable to her. It seems to us
that it has brought her more harm than good; but on the first beginning
of friendly relations between Austria and Russia, Turkish affairs have
taken quite another turn. The vassals of the Turkish Sultan evidently no
longer find external obstacles to their efforts for obtaining
independence. The princes of Romania and Servia appoint diplomatic
agents at the European courts, and intend to buy their independence of
the Sultan by money, of which the Turkish government has great need. On
the other side, the Porte only knows that the number of its defenders:
and protectors has decreased, and that, in the persecution of its
Christian subjects, it cannot count on the indifference of the
neighboring governments. The Eastern question constitutes, therefore, a
soil on which the friendship between Russia and Austria can produce the
most excellent fruit, if only the bases of the Eastern policy of the two
powers shall be identical, and if they are insured by a full agreement
between them in regard to ends and means. However that may be, the great
guarantee for an advantageous peace we see in the solemn event of which
our capital will to-morrow be witness. Russia and Austria are not now
what they were fifty and forty years ago; a close alliance between them
cannot in any respect embarrass Europe. The friendly relations which
exist between the Emperors Alexander, William, and Francis Joseph,
consti tute a powerful force, which will put down any attempts to affect
the peaceful course of events on the European continent. While
guaranteeing peace, the new position of affairs will not in the
slightest degree threaten the development of the civil life of the
nations of Europe. Let us remember in this relation that the Russian and
Austrian governments are arming themselves alike against the dark force
of Papal absolutism, which has declared war on reason.
[From the Golos, February
2–14, 1874.]
A salute of cannon informed the inhabitants of St. Petersburg, to-day, of
the arrival in our capital of the guest of our Emperor, the
Austro-Hungarian Emperor, Francis Joseph. This visit is not only the
most important political event of the week, but, in connection with the
former interviews of the rulers of the three greatest European powers,
it must be admitted to be a fact having an important meaning for all the
general European policy of late times, and constituting in itself a new
and very important guarantee for the maintenance of European peace for a
length of time in future. We yesterday gave a special article to the
consideration of the importance of this happy event, and to-day can only
say that the views which we expressed are shared by all the serious
journals of Europe. Even that part of the Vienna press which was
formerly systematically hostile to Russia holds, in advance, the event
of to-day as a final step to the firm renewal of perfectly friendly
relations between two great neighboring powers which have many common
interests. These journals see, in the visit of the Emperor Francis
Joseph to St. Petersburg, a happy guarantee that the sincere friendship
and complete reconciliation of the two governments and nations, which
had begun at the Berlin interview of the Emperors in 1872, will now
develop in the same beneficent direction which has brought, since that
time, so many happy results. This unity of feeling in the views of the
Russian and Vienna press shows that in St. Petersburg, as well as in
Vienna, public opinion stands the same way as to the important
signification of the journey of the Austrian monarch, and expects from
it the happiest results for the mutual relations of both countries, and
for the maintenance of European peace.
We do not doubt that the magnificent reception given to-day by the St.
Petersburg public to the august guest of our sovereign will produce the
happiest impression on the Austrian monarch, who visits our capital for
the first time, and, serving as an expression of the deep respect and
sympathy inspired by his personal qualities, will show him how
sympathetically the Russian nation welcomes, in his person, the new era
which is the beginning of sincerely friendly relations between Russia
and Austria, We are sure that the glad cries which went up to-day on the
streets of St. Petersburg, at the passage of the Emperor Francis Joseph
to the winter palace, will find a glad echo even in Vienna.
[From the St.
Petersburg Gazette, February 1–13,
1874.]
From a Russian point of view we can only be well satisfied with the
friendship of Russia and Austria. Of course we say this, considering
that the times of the Metternichs have passed not to return, and that
Russia can no longer play the strange part of a defender of legitimacy
in Naples and Spain, or of a putter-down of German students, as she did
fifty years ago. Still less will Russia be in a condition to take upon
herself the task of reconciling the populations of the Austro-Hungarian
monarchy [Page 814] with the Hapsbnrg
dynasty, as she did in 1849. But even after the mistakes of the old
times the friendship of Austria is for us a very great prize. After all
the losses and misfortunes, Austro-Hungary remains still a very powerful
monarchy in Europe, and a large and brave army obeys the voice of the
monarch; and not to prize the alliance of such a neighbor would be in
the highest degree impolitic. Austro-Hungary is important in the first
place as a counter-weight to the German empire, which, although now in
the most friendly relations with us, partly through the influence of
services rendered by us, may yet change its position easily through
future events.
In the second place, friendly and frank relations with Yienna are
necessary for Russia for the purpose of a peaceful and conscientious
solution of the Polish question.
Finally, a good understanding with Austria is not without profit for us,
even in the so-called Eastern question, although the interests of Russia
are very strongly opposed to Austrian interests, which demand the status
quo from fear of a strengthening of South Sclavonic elements, which are
now kept down in the empire by the German and Magyars. A peaceful
solution of the Eastern question—and we certainly desire that for the
glory of Russia—it is impossible not to admit cannot be reached without
the common consent of both governments who are interested in the matter.
For this reason we, with the greatest satisfaction, hail the attempt of
Austro-Hungary to be friendly with us, and we can only wish that this
rapprochement, begun in diplomatic spheres, will soon pass over to the
spheres of scientific and literary activity and of industry and
commerce.
[From the Exchange Gazette, February
2–14, 1874.]
We allow ourselves to express some consoling hopes on the occasion of
this union between Russia and Austria; hopes relating to the men of our
race, the Austrian and Turkish Sclavonians. We are sure that so long as
friendly relations exist between the two governments, and they act in
common in the Eastern question, that all difficulties arising there will
be easily and quickly settled, and that the most complex questions will
be decided to the advantage of the vassal population at Turkey and in
the interests of its Christian subjects; so that the Eastern question,
which has been until now a “bugbear” for Western Europe, will be decided
gradually and imperceptibly by itself, without commotion, and without
especial revolutions. The Austrian press, until lately, was frightened
at panslavism, and shut its eyes so as not to see something much more
dangerous for the safety of the Hapsburg empire, pangermanism. We allow
ourselves to hope that the friendly union between Austria and Russia
will remove from the Austrian government all reasons for distrust with
regard to its Sclavonic subjects, and that it will satisfy all just
desires and solicitations of the Sclavonic races in Austria, which
constitute the majority of its population, and which have always
faithfully and sincerely served the Hapsburg dynasty; then the Austrian
Empire, relying on the Sclavonic element within itself, and on the
friendship of the Sclavonic Russian Empire abroad, will again occupy, in
the center of Europe, that strong and honorable position which it
occupied a quarter of a century ago.
