Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1896, and the Annual Report of the Secretary of State

Mr. Breckinridge to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, April 1, 1896. (Received April 16.)

No. 271.]

Sir: Referring to your No. 203, of March 12,¹ containing a copy of a letter from Hon. James B. Maguire, of the House of Representatives, and of an article from the San Francisco Bulletin received from Mr. Maguire, relating to the reported arrest of seventeen American citizens on Robben Island by the Russian authorities, upon the charge of illegal sealing, I have the honor to say that I have made this the occasion of an additional note to Prince Lobanow, a copy of which is inclosed, and that to-day I delivered the note in person to his excellency.

With respect to punishment, I told the prince that I hoped his Government would not pursue a harsh policy; that it seemed true that Russian sujects did not poach upon others; but that this was property difficult to define; that the seafaring people had universally, until comparatively of late years, been taught to look upon the seal as free spoil, like the cod or salmon; and that those who still transgress modern regulations were not, as a rule at least, men of criminal character, nor were they without respect by the communities in which they live. In support of this, I cited particularly the popular interest shown for these men in California, and the evident unwillingness of the British Government to combat squarely this avocation so largely followed by its Canadian subjects. He assented to the correctness of this statement, without combating its justice.

I followed this with the remark that there seemed to be a fatality about the sealing business; it costs more than it is worth; for some profit it gives no end of trouble, like the ivory business in Africa, to which the Prince readily gave assent; and I concluded my presentation of the matter by saying that upon a subject about which there were so many and respectable differences of opinion, the restrictions upon which were possibly among the things impossible, I hoped a temperate course would be followed, as probably more just and best suited to the larger interests of all parties. He said he would carefully look into the matter and see what could be done.

So far as I can see there is nothing more that I can do for these men, but I will follow up the inquiry as may appear to be necessary, and I will communicate to you promptly any information that may reach me and any developments that may occur.

I have, etc.,

Clifton R. Breckinridge.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Breckinridge to Prince Lobanow.

Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, March 14/26, 1896.

Your Excellency: Referring to my note of February 26/March 10 and previous communications relating to the reported arrest of certain American citizens charged with illegal sealing at Robben Island, I now have the honor to say that the Secretary of State of the United States calls my attention to the anxiety felt in the State of California to learn the fate of the prisoners. I beg, therefore, to renew my inquiries about these prisoners. It has not been my good fortune to be assured of any steps being taken to secure information so frequently and so earnestly asked for by my Government. I trust, therefore, that I do not appear either unreasonable or impatient when I respectfully request your excellency to have the goodness to indicate to me what steps have been kindly taken to procure the information sought and when something like definite intelligence may be expected.

Apart from the interest taken in this matter by my Government there is also the painful doubt and anxiety of the friends and families of the alleged prisoners to learn their fate.

I avail myself, etc.,

Clifton R. Breckinridge.

1. Not printed.