Mr. Breckinridge to Mr. Olney.
St. Petersburg , October 26, 1896 . (Received Nov 7.)
Sir: Referring with gratification to Mr. Rockhill’s No. 300, of September 11, approving of my note urging the pardon of the Americans arrested on Robben Island and sentenced to eighteen months’ confinement, I have the honor to say that I have been verbally informed at the foreign office that the papers in the case were promptly telegraphed for.
It was further stated that upon their arrival, which in due course of the mails should be about this time, they would be at once referred to the minister of justice, upon whose recommendation action would most likely depend.
As regards the commencement of the term of confinement, it was stated that it includes all detention from the time of arrest. Under that rule the prisoners have, even at the worst, only six or seven months yet of confinement, instead of eleven or twelve months, if the term began only with the date of sentence.
Any further information will be communicated as received.
I have, etc.,