Mr. Breckinridge to Mr. Sherman.
St. Petersburg, March 8, 1897. (Received March 22.)
Sir: Referring to Department’s No. 372, of February 13, I have the honor to say that advices from our consul at Riga, Mr. Bornholdt, inform me that Mr. John Ginzberg has sailed from Libau for London by the steamer Kiew.
It gives me pleasure to state in regard to this protracted and interesting case that during my absence upon leave it has been followed up with zeal and discretion by Mr. Peirce, the Chargé d’affaires ad interim, and that his efforts received the cordial and efficient cooperation of Mr. Bornholdt, our consul at Riga. Mr. Ginzberg, by the course followed, [Page 436] has been slowly, but as rapidly as possible, relieved from the embarrassments that were found to exist even after his acquittal; and it is a great relief to be able to report that he is at last out of the Empire and safely on his way home.
Remittance of 95 rubles has been made to Mr. Bornholdt to cover money advanced by him to Mr. Ginzberg.
I may remark that an apparent result of the continuous and earnest efforts of the past two or more years is some amelioration of the unbending severity that previously marked the policy of the Russian Government in cases of this kind. Until, however, the still ineffectual efforts to effect a conventional arrangement with Russia, upon the subject of expatriation, are more successful, our citizens of Russian origin, unless with previous Russian consent, expose themselves to the gravest hardship by returning to the Empire.
I have, etc.,