The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-12
Russia's Answer to the French Me-
diation Proposal.


The following dispatch from Prince Gorts-
chakof to the Russian Charge d'Afairs at
Paris conveys the answer Of the Russian
Government to the French poposal Of medi.
alton in America:
"Sir-I herewith enclose you copy Of q
dispatch from NJ. Drouyn dc rHuys. which
the Duke Of Monticello has been charged to
communicate to US.
1t concerns the affairs Of North America,
and its object Is to invite US to on entente
with France and England, to take advantage
Of the actual lassitude Of the parties to pro-
pose, In common. suspension Of hostilities.
In reply to this overture, reminded the
French Ambassador Of the solicitude which
our august master has never ceased to feel
for the American conflict from its very onset,
solicitude caused by the nmicable relations
existing between the two countries, and OF
which the Imperial Cabinet has given public
proofs. have assured him that nothing
could better respond to our wishes than to
zee the termination approach Of o struggle
which we deplore, and that to this effect our
Minister ut Washington has instructions to
seize every favorable opportunity to recon-.
mend moderation and Cancellation. 80 rs to
appease conflicting passions, and lead to q
wise settlement of the interests at stake. /
admitted that such counsels would certainly
have greater weight If presented simultane-
ously and in the same friendly manner by the
great powers who take an interest in the is
sue of this conflict.
But added that, In our opinion, what
ought specially to DO avoided was the appear
ance of any pressure whatsoever OF nature
to wound public opinion in the United States,
and to excite susceptibilities very easily
aroused at the bare idea of foreign interyen.
ton. Now, according to the information
we have hitherto received, we are inclined
to believe that combined step between
France, England and Russia, no matter how
concilatory and cautiously done, IL 1t was
taken with an official and collective charac-
ter, would run the risk of causing precisely
the very opposite Of the object Of paciiica-
ton, which is the aim Of the wishes OF the
three Courts.
We have, therefore, drawn the conclusion
that II the French government should persist
in deeming formal and collective step OPP
perfume. and that II the English Cabinet
shares that opinion, 1t would be impossible
for us, at the distance we are ut, to antici.
pate the manner in which such measure
would be received. But II, in that case, our
minister should not participate officially. his
moral support is not the less acquired before
hand to any attempt at Cancellation.
BY giving 1t to his colleagues of France
and OF England under the friendly form
(torme oGeieuse). which he might deem best
suited to avoid the appearance OF pressure,
NJ. de Stoeckl will only be continuing the
position and language which, by order OF
our august master, he has never ceased to
observe since the commencement OF the
American quarrel.
1t is in this sense that invite you to ex-
plain yourself to the French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. in reply to the communion
ton he has made to US.
lam, &C., GoRrscnAKoFT.
St. Petersburg. Oct. q, Nov. 81, 1862"