No. 262.
Mr. Hoffman to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
St. Petersburg, January 16, 1882. (Received February 9.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the long expected measure for the relief of the peasants in Russia, and of which I gave you an outline in my No. 113, of 5th May last, has at length been decided upon and is to go into effect January 1, 1883.
The decree has been delayed by the necessity for further examination of the question, how much the indebtedness of the peasants should be reduced, and how the deficiency was to be met.
The principal features of this measure are foreshadowed in my No. 113, to which I have the honor to refer you.
[Page 445]Two important points stand out in the decree, the rest being matter of detail:
- 1.
- The indebtedness of about 15,000 serfs to their former proprietors, for lands bought of them, is canceled. The state assumes this indebtedness, and the peasants are hereafter to pay the state.
- 2.
- This indebtedness to the state is reduced by at least one-seventh, and in exceptional cases considerably more.
I am, sir, &c.,