File No. 763.72114/551
The Ambassador in Russia (Marye) to the Chief Clerk of the
Department of State (Davis)
Petrograd,
May 1, 1915.
[Received June 7.]
My Dear Mr. Davis: I have the honor to send you herewith an
autograph letter from His Majesty the Emperor to His Excellency the
President, [and] an English translation of the Emperor’s letter; also an
English translation of the letter to me of Mr. Sazonov, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, with which the Emperor’s letter was handed to me to be
transmitted to the President.
I therefore beg you to hand to the President His Majesty’s autograph
letter, and at the same time the translation and the translation of Mr.
Sazonov’s letter to me.
I am [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
(Sazonov) to the American
Ambassador (Marye)
No. 4666/D II]
Petrograd,
April 18
/
May 1, 1915.
Mr. Ambassador: Replying to the note of
March 27/April 9, 1915, I have the honor to transmit herewith to
your excellency a letter from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor to
the President of the United States of America, in reply to the
letter of the President dated March 16 [18], 1915,1 which you had the honor to hand to His
Majesty on April 2.2
At the same time I consider it my duty to enclose herewith a copy of
the said letter of His Majesty.
From this copy your excellency will see that the Emperor has ordained
me to enter into negotiations with you and to intimate to you the
conditions on which a distribution of gifts among Austro-Hungarian
and German prisoners of war in Russia may be effected.
Acting under instructions of my August Sovereign, I consider it my
duty to state that the Imperial Government expresses its consent to
the distribution of gifts among Austro-Hungarian and German
prisoners, by American benevolent organizations in the capacity of
organizations of a nation which is protecting the interests of these
prisoners, and on condition that all regulations on this subject,
issued by Russian military authorities, will be observed.
[Page 1021]
But as in all questions concerning prisoners of war it is the custom
to be guided by the principle of perfect mutuality, the Imperial
Government gives its consent with the stipulation that the
governments of hostile powers should agree, in their turn, to allow
a distribution of subsidies among Russian prisoners by similar
organizations and in the same amounts as it will be done in
Russia.
Should, however, the present initiative of the United States
Government be based, as stated in the President’s letter, not only
on the fact that it is protecting the interests of Austro-Hungarian
and German subjects in the Russian Empire, but on the general
principles of humanity towards prisoners, the Imperial Government
deems it possible to consent to the distribution of gifts by the
above-mentioned organizations, without demanding the observance of
mutuality, but, as stated above, provided the corresponding
regulations will be complied with. At the same time, the Imperial
Government expresses its assurance that in their philanthropic work
American citizens will not make any distinction as regards
nationalities and will extend the same kindness to Russian prisoners
in Austria-Hungary and Germany.
While humbly requesting your excellency to kindly transmit His
Majesty’s letter to its high destination, and to communicate the
contents of the present note to the Government of the United States,
I avail myself [etc.]
[Subenclosure—Translation]
The Emperor of Russia
to
the President
Mr. President: The Ambassador of the
United States has handed me your letter of March 18, 1915.
In this letter you ask me to allow representatives of the United
States Government and of the American Red Cross to render assistance
to prisoners of war of hostile armies interned in Russia, by
personally distributing various gifts.
I highly appreciate and share the philanthropic feeling of the
citizens of the United States in view of which you addressed
yourself to me with the above request. Wishing to meet this feeling,
and deeply appreciating your initiative, I have instructed my
Minister of Foreign Affairs to enter into negotiations with the
Ambassador of the United States of America and to communicate to him
the conditions on which a distribution of gifts among
Austro-Hungarian and German prisoners in Russia can take place.
I avail myself of this opportunity to express my sincere friendship
to the great American nation and its Government and my personal high
respect for yourself.
Your good friend,
Nicholas
April 15, 1915.
