The Secretary of State to the Russian Ambassador.

No. 17.]

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th instant, stating that the Government of Russia has forbidden the importation into the Russian Empire of all kinds of firearms (except ordinary sporting guns), cannon, shells, explosives of all kinds, gunpowder, cartridges, nitroglycerine, etc., under penalty of confiscation of the articles in question.

Your note has been communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and will be published.

Accept, etc.,

Elihu Root.