Up to this date the amount of money contributions received by this legation
was 154,777.95 rubles, or about $77,000. Of this sum 69,063.05 rubles came
through the New York Chamber of Commerce; 19,775 rubles through the
Baltimore fund; 37,176.33 rubles through the Philadelphia Committee (of
which about 20,000 rubles, received to-day for a special purpose, have not
yet been deposited); 11,243.26 rubles through the Massachusetts fund; and
7,020 rubles through the Cleveland fund. The balance was made up of smaller
sums. Of payments from this American relief fund under the control of the
legation, 80,125.86 rubles have been made through the relief organization of
the British American Church; 11,934.50 rubles through the Jewish committee;
11,020 rubles to Count Leo Tolstoi; 13,196,55 rubles to the special
committee of the Czarowitz; besides some smaller amounts.
It is felt to be due to the American contributors to inform them of the
methods and agents used in conveying their offerings to the suffering
peasants for whom they were designed. I have, therefore, prepared as the
most convenient form a circular letter embodying detailed statements which
need not be repeated here, and it is appended as an inclosure.
[Inclosure in No. 171.]
Mr. Smith to the
American contributors to the Russian famine
relief funds.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, April 16,
1892.
The American contributions for the relief of the sufferers from the
famine in Russia have come in two forms—food and money. Up to the
present time two steamers, the Indiana and the
Missouri, have arrived, laden with flour and
other breadstuffs. Two more are to come. Besides these shiploads of
food, about $77,000 in money have been sent to the American legation for
distribution. The value of these offerings is more than 1,000,000
rubles.
The contributors are entitled to know what has been done with their
generous gifts. It would involve top much labor and needless repetition
to send to every center or committee a detailed statement with the
necessary explanation. I, therefore, present a general report in a form
which can be submitted to all, and which, it is hoped, will prove
satisfactory.
Appended to this letter will be found an exact account of the moneys
received and of the payments made. This account is given in rubles—the
ruble being substantially the equivalent of 50 cents. The variations
observable in the proceeds of equal amounts are due to the fluctuating
rate of exchange. Wherever the contributors indicated how their gifts
should be applied, their instructions were followed. In other cases, I
exercised the discretion entrusted to me. In all cases receipts were
taken from the parties to whom the payments were made, and they have
been sent to the contributors.
It will be observed that, with the exception of three special payments,
which are understood by the particular contributors, all of the money
was expended through three channels—the relief organization of the
British-American Church of St. Petersburg, the Jewish relief committee,
and Count Tolstoi. The work of Count Tolstoi is well known and needs no
explanation. Comparatively few Hebrews were among the sufferers, as
there are only two of the famine provinces in which they dwell in any
considerable number. The greater part of the funds went through the
British-American committee, That organization was early selected as the
special auxiliary and medium of the American legation in this work. When
it first became evident that considerable contributions were coming from
America, immediate attention was directed to the method of distribution.
Two considerations were manifestly of paramount importance. The first
was to find a channel of distribution which should command the full
confidence of the contributors, and which should permit the
contributions to be followed to their final destination and application.
The second was to do this in a manner which would carry the cordial
approval and cooperation of the Russian Government.
Fortunately, the relief organization of the British-American Church
presented the means of fulfilling both requirements. The pastor, Rev.
Alexander Francis, made two distinct and extended visits to the famine
region and selected various local agents; consultation was had with
landed proprietors of other interested and active people within his and
my own personal acquaintance; and by these means, carefully followed
through a period of several months, an organization of local committees
was built up and extended, through which the distribution could be made
directly to the suffering peasantry.
In every case, detailed reports were required, so that it would be
possible to tell where every dollar or carload of flour went and what
was done with it. This organization assured the most faithful and
conscientious application of the gifts, and by personal conference with
the highest Russian authorities I satisfied myself that it not only had
their approval and confidence, but that they desired to aid it in every
practical way.
[Page 382]
Through this auxiliary, therefore, I have paid more than 100,000 rubles
in money, most of it applied through channels to which I gave personal
examination. A few illustrations of its distribution are given. Three
thousand rubles were furnished to Madame Davidoff, the chief of a
committee that is sustaining some ten villages. Five hundred rubles were
given to Countess Olga Tolstoi for material to be worked by peasants.
Three thousand one hundred rubles were paid to Madame Weliaminoff, who,
with her associate ladies, is carrying on nearly one hundred soup
kitchens, relieving the most necessitous in a district with a population
of 170,000 souls. Five thousand rubles were sent through the Princess
Volkonski, with whom I had several personal conferences, and through
whose efforts a large district of Tamboff was cared for. Much attention
was given to the Province of Samara, where the famine was at its worst,
and where the Russian-German colonies were in great distress. We
furnished 45,000 rubles for use there, and a letter to me from Mr.
Blessing, who was in general charge of the work in that particular
district, says: “Muller and Faidel, his chief agents, have between them
saved the cattle and horses in exactly one hundred German colonies and
Russian villages. They have established fifty-one soup kitchens, which
feed over 12,000 people daily, and they have bought seed for 18,900
acres.”
The same machinery was employed in distributing the cargoes of flour. The
legation, with the aid of its auxiliary, determined where and through
whom every carload should go. We made up complete lists of consignees,
which the special committee of the Emperor approved. The Russian
Government furnished the necessary cars, transported the flour without
cost, and delivered it to the persons whom we designated. Thus the cargo
of the Indiana, sent from Libau in seven trains,
all decorated with the Russian and American flags, was despatched in one
hundred and eighty-seven cars, apportioned among ten different
provinces, and consigned to forty-five different centers or agents of
distribution. The cargo of the Missouri, handled
in the same way, was sent in two hundred and forty-one cars to thirteen
provinces and seventy-five centers. Each agent was notified of the
amount sent, and required to make a report of its disposition. Similar
plans are being perfected for the coming steamers.
In view of all these arrangements it is believed the American
contributors may feel fully assured that their generous gifts have been
faithfully applied to the object to which they were consecrated. It only
remains to add that these offerings have been cordially received and
gratefully appreciated; that they have not only brought great
substantial relief, but have done much to promote good feeling between
the two nations, and that the thanks of the Emperor, which His Majesty
has requested the American minister to make known to the American
people, as well as the gratitude also of the Russian people, will be
conveyed in suitable form.
I remain, etc.,
