No. 263.
Mr. Hoffman to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
St.
Petersburg, February 4, 1882.
(Received February 21.)
No. 195.]Sir: Referring to your dispatch No. 109, I have the
honor to forward to you herewith a copy of my note of January 14, to Mr. de
Giers, expressing the thanks of the President for the hospitality of Russia
towards the survivors of the Jeannette, together with a translation of Mr.
de Giers’ note to me of February 3, in reply.
I am, sir, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 195.]
Mr. Hoffman to Mr.
de Giers.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, January 2–14,
1882.
Excellency: In my note of December 9–21 last, I
had the honor to inform your excellency that I had received telegraphic
instructions from my government to tender its hearty thanks to all
Russian authorities and persons who had been instrumental in assisting
the survivors of the Jeannette.
To-day I am in receipt of written instructions upon the same subject.
The Secretary of State assures me that the noble action of the Imperial
Government in hastening to relieve the distressing situation of the
survivors of the American steamer Jeannette, and to facilitate their
speedy restoration to their homes, is welcomed by the American people as
a striking tribute to the good-will and fraternity which have
traditionally existed between the United States and Russia. While to the
Government of the United States it is, in addition, a notable proof of
the closeness of the ties which bind the two countries in generous
fellowship. Both government and people see in this act of rescue
something more than an exhibition of that natural humanity which prompts
governments as well as individuals to succor the distress and relieve
the needs of those cast upon a friendly shore; they recognize it as
manifesting the warmth of the association of two great nations, whose
intercourse has been from the outset marked by signal and enduring
friendship and by acts of mutual consideration and esteem.
The President directs me to convey these sentiments to His Majesty’s
Government, and to assure it through your excellency, in the name of the
Government and people of the United States, of the deep gratification
with which the great hospitality of Russia to our unfortunate explorers,
cast upon her coast, has been received in the United States.
Happy to be the channel through which these earnest assurances are
conveyed to your excellency, I beg at the same time to assure you,
&c., &c.,
[Page 446]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
195—Translation.]
Mr. de Giers to Mr.
Hoffman.
Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of
Interior Relations,
St.
Petersburg, January 22–February 3,
1882.
Sir: I made it my duty to place before His
Majesty the Emperor the note of January 2–14, which you were kind enough
to address tome under the instructions of the Secretary of State of the
United States for foreign affairs upon the subject of the assistance
which the authorities of Eastern Siberia have been instructed to extend
to the survivors of the American ship “The Jeannette.”
This assistance was a duty of humanity and of respect for the brave men
who had undertaken this expedition from devotion to science.
The circumstance that they belonged to a country for which sentiments of
friendship are traditional in Russia certainly could only increase the
ardor with which the government and the imperial authorities came to
their aid in their distress.
His Majesty the Emperor was much pleased to learn that the good will of
these authorities has been received by the American people as a proof of
the sympathy which the Russian nation feels for them.
My august master is glad to see on every occasion these ties, to which
His Imperial Majesty attaches a great importance, grow closer and
closer.
Have the kindness, sir, to transmit this assurance to the Secretary of
State, and receive at the same time that of my most distinguished
consideration.
