Mr. Smith to Mr. Blaine.

No. 156.]

Sir: In acknowledging your instruction No. 130, of January 25, I have the honor to state that, while it evidently was not intended for formal communication to the Russian Government, it is at the same time so just a statement of the sentiment of the American people respecting the calamity which this Empire suffers in the famine that I deemed it justifiable and best to make the Government aware of your sympathetic and appreciative expressions. I therefore found opportunity to submit a copy informally to the minister of foreign affairs for his perusal. Mr. de Giers read it with great interest and with manifest satisfaction, and asked me to say in reply that the Russian Government was very sensible of the friendly offerings of the American people and of the cordial terms in which you had expressed their kindly sentiment.

I have, etc.,

Chas. Emory Smith.