Mr. Breckinridge to
Mr. Olney.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, October 7, 1896.
(Received Oct. 22.)
No. 405.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 135, of August 29,
1895, I now have the honor and pleasure of inclosing copy of a letter
from Mr. John Ginzberg, dated Minsk, September 19/October 1, stating
that his trial was concluded September 16/28, with the result that he
can return to the United States.
Mr. Ginzberg further alludes to the method of his return, desires the
return of his American papers, and he prefers a claim against the
Russian Government of $3 a day for 730 days of arrest and detention.
I also inclose copy of my letter of this date to Mr. Ginzberg and of my
note of same date to the foreign office.
I express gratification at the reported conclusion of the trial, ask for
fuller and more explicit information of the result, request the return
to Ginzberg of his papers and full liberty as respects his return to the
United States, but refrain from taking any action in regard to his
claim, informing him that it is referred to the Department.
Further information will be reported to you as it may be obtained.
Submitting the foregoing, I have the honor, etc.,
[Page 510]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
405.]
Mr. Ginzberg to
Mr. Breckinridge.
My petition and request:
Merciful Gentleman: I let you know that my
trial is over by the judges of Minsk, in the city of Pinsk, on the
6th of September, 1896. It was finished for to send me to the United
States of America. So I am afraid that Russia will not send me as a
passenger. But they might send me through jails or arrest houses, as
they always do in their land. Therefore, my beloved and good
gentleman, I pray you very much to be so kind unto your servant and
let me not suffer in this journey. Ask, please, the Russian rulers
to give me only in my hands the American papers, with a ticket for
the railroad and steamship, and so it will take me only about two
weeks’ time to come to the United States of America. But if they
will carry me so it will take seven weeks’ time, and I will be mixed
up with all kinds of bad men, so that I can not stand that. And I
pray you very much charge Russia for two years’ time that they kept
me arrested, for, indeed, they arrested me unlawfully on the
Prussian ground, till it now makes altogether 730 days. I charge
them $3 a day.
Yours, truly,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
405.]
Mr. Breckinridge to Mr. Ginzberg.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, October 7, 1896.
Sir: I have your letter of September
17/October 1, and it affords me much pleasure to learn that the
decision in your case permits of your return to the United
States.
In regard to the method of your going, of which you speak, I make
inquiry, and will inform you of the result as soon as practicable.
The request is also made that your American papers be returned to
you.
Concerning your claim against the Russian Government for
compensation, I take no action at this time beyond including a
statement of your claim in my report to the Department of State.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No.
405.]
Mr. Breckinridge to Count Lamsdorff.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, October 7, 1896.
Your Excellency: Referring to the case of
John Ginzberg, of which my note of August 21/September 2, 1895, to
the Imperial ministry of foreign affairs was my last communication,
I now have the honor to say that a letter from Mr. Ginzberg, dated
Minsk (city of Pinsk), September 19/October 1, informs me that his
trial was concluded September 6/18, and that the result permits of
his return to the United States.
[Page 511]
Beyond the foregoing in a general way Mr. Ginzberg does not give me
any information as to the nature of the verdict.
I beg to say that this information will be gratifying to my
Government.
I should be pleased to receive a more full and explicit statement of
the finding of the court and of the further course intended to be
pursued with respect to Mr. Ginzberg, and I have the honor to
request your excellency’s good offices to this end.
Mr. Ginzberg expresses a desire for the return of his American
papers, and for unrestricted liberty as regards his return to the
United States. Without entering upon any of the controverted points
between the Imperial Government and the Government of the United
States, in cases similar to this, I will only say that this course
would be gratifying to my Government.
I avail myself etc.,
