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  4. Document 618

No. 614.
Mr. Foster to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, March 15, 1881. (Received April 3.)
No. 94.]

Sir: On yesterday, at 2.30 p.m., I received from you the following telegram:

Express to minister of foreign affairs the sentiments of sorrow with which the President and the people of the United States have heard of the terrible crime of which the Emperor has been the victim, and their profound sympathy with the imperial family and the Russian people in their great affliction.

[Page 1010]

I immediately sent a note to Minister de Giers, embodying the language of your telegram, of which I inclose a copy.

I am to-day in receipt of a reply from Mr. de Giers, in which he states that the Emperor, profoundly touched by the sentiments expressed in my note, has charged him to thank me for these testimonials of sympathy.

I inclose a translation of the minister’s note.

I am, &c.,

JOHN W. FOSTER.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 94.]

Mr. Foster to Mr. de Giers.

Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, March 2 (14), 1881.

Excellency: I did not fail to telegraph to my government information of the patricidal crime of which His Majesty the Emperor was yesterday the victim.

To-day I am in receipt of a reply from Washington. I am instructed to express to your excellency the sentiments of sorrow with which the President and people of the United States have heard of the terrible crime of which the Emperor has been the victim and their profound sympathy with the imperial family and the Russian people in their great affliction.

I need scarcely add to your excellency how sincerely I mingle my own sorrow and sympathy with those of the President and people of the United States.

I take this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

JOHN W. FOSTER.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 94.—Translation.]

Mr. de Giers to Mr. Foster.

St. Petersburg, March 3 (15), 1881.

Mr. Minister: His Majesty the Emperor, deeply touched by the sentiments which you express on behalf of the President and people of the United States, as well as in your own name, on the occasion of the grievous loss which has stricken Russia, charges me to thank you for these testimonials of sympathy.

Receive, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

GIERS.