Mr. Breckinridge to
Mr. Olney.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, April 10, 1896.
(Received April 28.)
No. 281.]
Sir: Referring to your No. 209 of March
24,1 inclosing copy
of a petition from San Francisco about Americans arrested upon Robben
[Page 500] Island, I have the honor
to transmit herewith a copy of my note of April 7 to Prince Lobanow
based thereon. This I took to Prince Lobanow on the 8th instant, his
reception day, wishing to be sure that it received his personal
attention. In addition to carefully reading this note his remarks were
quite satisfactory. I feel justified in saying that he realizes that our
citizens may have been victimized into this trouble; that a deep
interest is felt in the fate of these men, both by our Government and by
the best people of San Francisco, and that there is a disposition in
some quarters to take too extreme a view of the misconduct of poaching
and unduly hostile to those now accused. He assured me in the kindest
manner of his real interest in the matter, said he would give it his
personal attention, and finally informed me that jurisdiction over the
case rested with the governor of the Amoor district, now in the city,
and suggested that I see him.
Of course I have taken steps to avail myself of this information and kind
suggestion, having addressed a note to the governor requesting an
audience. The result will be made known to you at the earliest day
practicable.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 281.]
Mr. Breckinridge to Prince Lobanow.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, March 26/April 7, 1896.
Your Excellency: Referring to my note of
March 14/26, in regard to the seventeen sealers arrested upon Robben
Island, I now have the honor to further state that my Government has
forwarded to me a copy of a petition from the mayor, members of the
judiciary, and other high officials of the city of San Francisco,
and also concurred in by many prominent citizens of that city not in
official position, manifesting their deep interest in the case of
the citizens of the United States concerned.
It is believed that these men were taken to Robben Island by the
British schooner Saipan, and that Howe and
Brennen, and perhaps the other Americans, were committed in
infractions of Russian law without their consent.
Reports are reaching the United States of harsh treatment of these
men, to the distress of their families and friends, and to the
disquiet of the kind assurance your excellency had the goodness to
give me upon the occasion of my interview of last Wednesday, that
you would look into the matter and see what could be done, and I
have not failed to communicate this to my Government, which, I am
sure, is convinced of your desire to do for the United States all
that is compatible with justice and the interests of Russia.
I beg to say that my present note, therefore, while following close
upon my last one, arises from no doubt upon that score, nor from a
spirit of haste; but it is to submit this new data to your
consideration in conformity with the necessities of the case and the
present dispatch from my Government. I respectfully repeat the
request for information which I had the honor to submit in my note
of March 21/April 2; and I urgently ask that your excellency will
have the goodness to [Page 501]
continue your kind attention to this matter that the fear of undue
harshness entertained, and so largely indicated, may not be
realized.
I avail myself, etc.,
