The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03
RUSSIAN PRIVATEERS.

The subject OF Russian prlvatecrs up in Par
lament on Tuesday night, when Mr.. Gourey asked
tho Attorney General Sir Jshn Holkcr, III his asten
tion had been called to the alleged purchase and
equipment by the Russian government and Russian
subjects OF the United States steamships for tho pur
pose OF being employed and commissioned as public
rrivateors; and II he could how Tar the ailcga-
lions were correct and the nature OF the RESPONSE
bll'ties attaching to the United States government
under the Treaty OF Washington, and the Russian
government and Russian subjects under the Deciara-
ton OF Paris should the vessels in question ships
Of other neutral countries be commissioned for the
capture OF BRUSH shipping IN the event Of war;
ATTORNEY GENERALS ANSWER.
Sir John HoIkers answer sensible and to the
shipping interests of England satisfactory The Times
gives excellent summary OF 1t, which be
hero quoted :-"rhe Attorney Generals answer was to
the effect that doubtless steamships had been recently
purchased in the United states by Russian agents,
but that there TO bell eve that Russia In
the event OF war intended TO employ those vessels
privatcers in contravcntion OF tho Declaration OF
Paris. Her Majes,y's government had no reason to
apprehend that the government OF tho United States
had any Intention to depart from tho Three Rules
laid down in the treaty OF Washington 1t was hardly
necessary, continued the Attorney General, to
slider what responsibilities would attach the nited
States government Or to tho Russian government In
the event Of any violation their part Of their obi
cations under tho Treaty Of Washington and the Dccla-
ration Of Paris respectively"
''TlMgs" ON THE SUBJECT
"Any other answer than this, saws the Times,
'couid hardly have been returned" ana goes
'Indeed, as 10 the responsibilities of the United
States government it woud be simply impairment
for the Ministers OF foreign Power TO discuss before
hand whether they will DO observed. IL safe as
sumo that their observance will enforced though
our confidence In TINS respect be assumed
TO Imply that we are inaentive TO what 10 passing.
The alarms 70 which Mr. Gourcy called attention are
| tho natural growth OF the hour. But tho
Americans themselves, though they at FIRST gave TOO
liberal credcnce and currency to the alleged projects
OF Russia upon the soil and tho United
states, havc alter examination of the facts ar.
rived at The conclusion That England has little or
nothing to lear from the monaco Of tho AIabamas,
| expected from the wucpuiers of Fcnianism.n
THE DUTIES or NEUrRALs.
| "TheSe sober conclusiona Tie Times continues.
(which have begun prevail in the United States IN
spne Of renewed sensational reports are In accord
with those which our national common reached
the character OF the privatecrng panic was
! distinctly understood. We do not, indeed, contend
that the operations OF the Russian agents other
side Of tho Atlantic might not injury in
the event Of war. The Civilizations OF neutrality,
OF pcace-or, at least. hardly expect America
so tar 10 enlarge their appiication-and Russia may
got possession, II she chooses aud able spend
large sum Of money, OF many swift sailing vessels
which, properly commissioned as her own, may lot
M
merce OF England But this would not be 4 neet OF
| Aiabamas Tho distinctive character OF the cruisers
for whose acts the Tribunal at Geneva dam
against this country that they equipped
for beaerent use within the territorial jurisdiction
| Of a neutral Power.
TnE POSITION or RUSSIA
"Wc cannot mpain that Russia IL buying ships at
| New York or san Francisco any moW than that
| purchasing heavy guns oil Herr Krupp raising
money upon the Exchange OF Amsterdam. she Gun ut
present. inieed buy ships In the Jersey tue Clyde.
as She can ask English capitalists to lend ner moro
money, and while her theoretical rights such SIR
Edward Thornton could not urge wan any show Of
justice that The dealings between Russian agents
American shipowners ought to BIO interrupted by tho
government al Washington She has made the most
Of her opportunity and has got possession OF least
two steamers OF nigh speed All that governments
do Is to obtain the most Information, and
tako measures Tor striking heavily Mt tho uowly
acquired vessels II war should be suddenly declared.
The equipment OF such ships must b. accom- lisbcd
IN Russian ports, unless tho United States seI aside
deliberately their International obligations. But there
is not the slightest reason to suppose that the gov
eminent OF President Hayes will relax that vaiiant
Observance OF neutrality which tradition OF Amer
can policy.
l. 4 COMPLIMENT TO MIR. WARTS
"yhe Department OF State. VIII ch is charged with tho
EforSgn policy OIL the Repubic, Is administered by
Mr. Evaris, high authority upon Internal ional law,
who rs counsel Tor his government at Geneva,
claimed tho most stringent application for the doc
man to alternate deliberately the obligation oil due
diligence which no pressed then nard against
England. and ne knows that 10 depart from tho prn-
ciplcs winch were maintained oy tho United States
government long before the Treaty OF Washington
was signed would in,peril the fulure OF American
commerce for the sake Of gratifying the malignuy
the avarice OF a lew who hate or envy England Tho
obligations Of neutrality. defined more vigorously than
by the Washington rules, cnjoln upon tue Unted
States not only the suppression OF Alabamas but tho
enactment, II necessary. OF such laws rs may DO
| needed to make the suppression complete The rules
embodied for US a new responsibility; Tor tho
Americans they only gave shape a recognized duty
which, while our statesmen nad denied ", theirs had
consistently upheld. Tho popular journals in tho
United states express tho national feeling when they
affirm that on no consideration must this tradition DO
broken. The assurance may be accepted the
frankly because IL ~ not always accompanied with
complimentary language toward England. ana is very
generally qualified by expressions OF goodwill toward
| Russia"
The Cronsiadt correspondents Of the Giotc gives
some now information about tho movements of Rus
siau vessels bound, presumably, Tor American watcrs
Writing on tho i5ln says:-ssYestcrday afternoon
three O'Clock. the sixteen gun rigatc Prince Po-
jarsKy, under the command OF Captain BasargiD, and
the clipper Djgite under that OF Captain ivroDc
lott Cronstadt Roadstcad tor the sei On their way
TO the sound they will probably be rejoinei by tho
| iriga,c Peirapavlovski, and the three mcn-of
VIII then proceed direct to the Atsntic coast
| Something VIII DO heard OF them. doubt, when
iGcy pass Es sore. but as they will thence proceed
across tue Atiantc by tho unirequcnted route past
the north Of scotland further intelligence OF their
movements will not bc received Until they Join the
| Cimbria. rhe Pojarsky was accompanied on i,s de-
purturc BY the dcspach boat Tchassvoy. Last situr
day the gunboaL Somoyard lett Cronstadt for Rcvei
for the defence Of the port thorc. Every day fresh
.of-war commissioned ana pass from the mole
into the roadstead, aud on Zach OF them large
OF engaged getting them ready Tor sea
Under ordinary circumstances tho work OF hing tho
| ironcads for active service would not have com.
fncnccd before the present week. but owing 10 tho
energy Infused into tho authorities by tho government
at ST. Petersburg tho season has begun quite month
carrier this year. and squadron has already Icfs the
port. havc Tried 70 nni oui whether the Pojarsky
and Dngitc got board -torcs tor the
Hussin IS purchasing IN America. bat tho secrecy OF
the authorities " too great Tor me 10 break through
! RALrc.
The Cronstadters excited lust IN witnessing
tho experiments with torpedo cutters, loo OF which
added 10 the Russian feet by the cnd OF May
and TO be employed upon any part OF the CULTS and
/ seas lying within the SOUND aud which gro known
under tho generic term OF ths "Balfic.n These vcs-
4 Ugi1 mr.
| but they might likewise DO termed quito
/ correctly .amphibious torpedo vessels Tor
they BIO easily tranportcd by rails
glahce tho map shows that the fortified
points OF RovcI and sveaBorg control the mouth OF
the Gulf Ui Finland. while tronstalt lies cobocaio
In the throat. All these points connected by ral
WAYS, and when the torpedo fleet complete " viii
be possible Tor tho Russian Admiralty TO remove all
the others by raii to any Threatened point Thus 81
| Svcsborg were Diensced the whole of the torpedo