Mr. White to Mr. Gresham.
St. Petersburg, January 10, 1894. (Received January 22.)
Sir: Count Kapnist, director of the Asiatic department at the imperial foreign office, called upon me yesterday to ask whether the Government of the United States would incline to receive proposals from the Russian Government for a modus vivendi similar to that which now exists between Russia and Great Britain.
He said that Russia had delayed this suggestion until after the close of the Paris Arbitration Conference in order not to complicate matters there, but that his Government would be very glad to submit now the proposal above referred to; he wished, however, that before submitting these proposals the Imperial Government could have some information as to the feeling of our own Government in relation to the matter.
He said that Russia would be very glad to have a more complete, comprehensive, and thorough understanding on the subject, but that until this was reached something provisory in the nature of a modus vivendi was very desirable.
He dwelt especially on the provisional character of any such arrangement, and on the fact that it would not exclude a more complete agreement at any future time.
He also dwelt on the desirability of conforming any such agreement now made to that at present existing between Russia and Great Britain, since any material change would of course necessitate changes in that agreement.
As he showed an especial desire for early information and himself suggested a telegram, I have sent you this day the telegram appended.
I am, etc.,