No. 275.
Mr. Shishkin to Mr. Evarts.
[Translation.]
Legation of Russia,
Washington, June 11, 1877.
(Received June 11.)
Sir: I hasten to transmit to you, herewith, a
copy of a circular which has just been sent me by his highness the
chancellor of the empire.
Although the Government of the United States was not among the signers of
the declaration of Paris of 1856,1 should nevertheless be particularly
obliged to you, Mr. Secretary of State, if you would be pleased to
inform me in what manner the Federal Government views the facts
mentioned in the circular of the imperial cabinet.
I avail myself, at the same time, of this occasion to renew to you Mr.
Secretary of State, the assurance of my very high consideration.
[Inclosure.—Translation]
Copy of a circular of his highness the
chancellor of the empire, dated St. Petersburg, May 14
(26), 1877.
You are aware that our ports in the Black Sea have been declared by
the Porte to be in a state of blockade. Nevertheless,
notwithstanding this declaration, the Ottoman military flag has thus
far shown itself on the coast of the Caucasus only, and the [Page 476] shores of the Black Sea
are blockaded by no effective hostile force. Our local authorities
inform us that commercial activity still continues in our ports,
that merchant vessels enter them without molestation, and leave in
the same manner, and finally that the coasting trade is still
carried on between them.
In bringing the foregoing to the notice of the government to which
you are accredited, you will be pleased to inquire whether it does
not consider the above-mentioned state of things as contrary to the
declaration of Paris of 1856, according to which paper blockades are
abolished, and any blockade in order to be valid must be
effective.
As it is the commerce of neutrals that is mainly interested in the
maintenance of this principle, the imperial cabinet thinks it not
improper to inform the friendly and allied powers of so abnormal a
situation.
I deem it my duty to refer to another fact of no less importance.
According to reports received from headquarters, the Turks throw
torpedoes into the Danube without any system, which may endanger
navigation in that river for a long time, whereas ours are sunk
according to a definite plan, and so that they can be removed
without difficulty.
We trust that it will be sufficient to call this difference to the
attention of the government to which you are accredited, in order to
induce it to make serious representations to the Porte on this
subject. We also trust that this statement will be considered as a
sufficient disclaimer on our part of any responsibility for the
possible consequences of the act referred to.
