New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-14
PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFFS ACCOl nj OF TIE
INTERVIEW.
The following is the report Of the interview
submitted by Prince GOrtschakoft to tho Gar ana pub
u.hed IN the ofic Al organs of the Russian Empire:

The following il the report OF. he interview
submitted by Prince GOrt1chakoto tho car ana pup
lished III the official organs of the Russian Empire;
FEIEDRfCIISHAFES. July U6), 1871.
dnnntation. conlpnard Of representatives. from dlf
fcrcnt evangelical communities, came l" FruTl'lailrh
for the purpose of pcttionng your Imperial Majesty ior
freedom of conscience WhC 1t was supposed, VIA NlO
Lated in Russia, especially It, the case oil Inc lho.l7
ond Ijyonans of our Baltic Provinces This drpntail9n
vnur Majesty was pleased order me to receive III
came to me the 81 OitD nl Jy' Inc uGpd'ioh cnn
sisted of 3; persons our interview lasted Tor upward
~ two hour, MANY Of these gentlemen made long
speeches and considered myself bound IN courtesy 10
tn%r tn Ipl your Majesty tho same inf''ion ana
ask permission To report shorty me gchri contents VI
what was said to me- and what answered. n,
Ky all without exception, expression was given OF
deep respect for your Tmpcra! Majesty, and OF comb
dcncc inspired by the maEnanmity OF your chaiasei
The gentlemen laid especial stress on tins. that their
present petition had no political hue whatever ana
y0ur Majesty WA prompted solely by general phlian
hrops 'nds In concl%!9% thGE FG&ne3"l s S % .S
Of handing TO your Majesty the addresses presented by
them OF thcc addrrr~e? there were three ono IRON r,,
the American Evangelical Society Nianrcl one from
the Of may express MYSELF European ENahG'iIai
Society Nancc: the trX OF which was wrl''oh III Lon
don. finally, a third from some (nakcr5. .
said to the gentlemen that the principles OF to!craton
and freedom of conscience were conIlrt"il1 o. S""r
Majesty and that yon had been pleased 10 away Irnih
faithful to the example of yuur predecessors whose con
vicons this point were impressed on all inc OF
Kussias history; that the history OF my ,oudS VIZ
re- prct prc-cntcd an appearance the IKE oi Wfn we
annals of other countries; hmaIA, thht lLs wa. I'M o.
the glorious prCTOgatlvCs OF Russia, Wl'h we WISHED w
maintain, Beside, sHlO Iht commence ulinlulp"nlJ
expressed BY them in the qualities Of Your Mdrsty
was sufficient guarantee ana mat was no,
that compiincc with requests put forward by Thorn
would entail the abr0gGtion of some lay" OF the Empire
that we in This matter could permit no foreign interview
lion whatever; that though this declaration, maj thtS
had political ends IN view Was OF great w" r,E-S nf
this he admission to your Majesty Of q, l
aton consisting Of rcprcsen ativcs fmany nnonllrs'
and the objects of which hid hcromc completely pun
had the appearance OF an intervention III our hrfHai
affairs but that we could moi tolerate thr Srauow oi m
tcrvcntOn from whatever side 1t came TINS dcrIal
ton received with deep regret WHICH, however WIS
expressed IL respectful terms.
Til" American Depntation then requested me TO nc,
already made myself privately acquainted ana as u,
contained only general observations answered thht
Deputy from Geneva thereup0n got up ana shiu t"'
those who had commissioned him were III hopes that
would also receive their address, which, IN consideration
OF its numerous signatures, might he called European
one This address was, has been mentioned above,
written in London requested to have look at It first
ON lacking through remarked that 1t contained pas
sagrs which looked like bill OF Indictment. without
hesitation declared that the references to the religious
belief and condition OF the Esthonans and Liyonias
rested partly erroneous, partly on snicehi datd
data we're derived from partial sources, whose auhcn
ITCHY 1t allowable to doubt refused To accept inc
address and expressed ii my opinion That would bo
better to abstain altogether from the presentation or any
address, since the acccpancc OF the American address
alone would wear an appearance Wnch might De Of
fensive to the whole deputatiou. After consultation
among themselves they agreed to my proposal.
last attempt was then made to induce me 10 give
written statement Of everything tnat had been said
answered that was rs rule, an enemy OF an useless
Of the convictions and fundamental principles OF your
Imperial Majesty to I've sufficient that II they had found
any want of clrdrncSs this respect since, on account
of their differences of nationality had by turn, to mako
use of the French English and German languages Twas
re.d once more 10 lcCiare our intentions They answered
that they had completely understood all these in
that case said 1t Will be for you 10 report 10 your
served no sign OF irritation, although recognition OF
complete want OF success was visible ana 90 not tak
AIN II assert that the franKhess ana courtesy
of INV words met with their respect.
The next day met four members OF the population
In ne OF the adjacent Of the caSe-TO OF them
English two American. Those gentlemen expressed with
their gratitude for the reception that had boon
Given them and said that they had immediately tele
graphed to London Times concerning the Impression
high qualities of your Imperial Majesty