The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-28
IS THIS STORY TRUE
Col. De Arnaud Says Russia
Needs No Aid.
HAS MONEY AND FOOD ENOUGH
But viii Accept Our Contributions As
Proof of Our Cordial Relations

ment in as Sound a Condition as Ever,
with Enormous Reserves in Foreign
Countries and at Home-AIiss Bartor's
contributions win be Received with
Christian Gratitude.
wAsHNeroN, Dec. as-Col Charles
De Arnaud, the well-known cham pion
of the present Czar in an interview,
says the reports of distress from famine
in Russia are exaggerated and that
Russia needs no aid.
81 have received, says Col. De
Arnaud humorous letters Of inquiry
regar ding that subject. l invaria bly,
answer that from my personal knowl-
dge of Russia's financia resources and
natural productions, do not believe
that the Russian Imperial Government
needs aid from any foreisa country to
enable it to cope with the distress pre-
vailing in some of It's provinces.
"a recent letter to me from high
authority at ST. Petersburg says that
the fall OF the snow and frost WAS a
God send to them. The roads were
then in good condition to reach the dis
tressed districts by means of sleighs.
The noble work for the relief of the suf-
fering peasantry was going on with
vigor 1t did one's heart good to see
with what interest the Imperial family,
the nobility and the people of all ranks
united under the Czarwitch's committee
of relief They had plenty of supplies
and corn, and there was no danger of
suffering or = starvation among the poor.
This letter speaks for itself. In re-
gard to the movement in the United
States for the starving peasantry, VEN
ture to say that the Russian Government
feels grateful to the phllanthropic ci5i-
Eens of this country who so nobly came
forward with their subscriptions, The
Russian Government naturally looks
upon this as a demonstration of the
ancient friendship existing between the
two countries, but l am certain, and
| speak as a Russo American, that the
| government cannot stand ia need of
outside aid.
"The AZ 600 sacks of -four which the
millers of the Northwest so generously y
| donated, the Russian Government is
| obliged to accept with thanks but really
| they do not need it,
''Mr. Alexander Gregor first secretary
of the Russian Legation, in the absence
of Minister De Strune, through his
| youth and inexperienCe, has taken upon
himself the responsibility of accepting
these donations on behalf Of his govern
ment, and has committed it to accept in
such manner that out Of gratitude
for such a spontaneous outburst CT feel
ing on the part of ths American people
they must ratify his act.
But l affirm that the finances OF the
Russian Imperial Government are in as
| sound condition as ever they were
Russia has always 100, 900, 900 gold
dollars on deposit in the various capi-
tails of Europe and in New York and at
home they have always several hundred
millions of reserved capital, with plenty
of surplus grain. With all this at COM
mand / do not see the nece ssity of
taxing the good people of this country
on behalf of suffering Russians.
''In regard to the effort of Miss Clara
Barton of the Ameri can Red Cross So
ciety, we cannot call 1t a foreign move
ment to aid the sufferers in Russia b ut
an international one, for the Red Cross
Society in America is a branch Of the
Red Cross Society in Russia, and vice
versa
"lhe Red Cross Society in Russia is
com posed of the most influential and
wealthiest classes, and it came TO the
aid of the Government in this crisis in
true Christian spirit.
| w ldt6Nef MISS Oldfd barton, az
President of the United States branch
of this great humanitarian organization
may contribute to them will be re-
csived with Christian gratitude"
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 2S.-Mr. Alexander
Greger, charge d'affaires of the Russian
legation at Washington, in an interview
said that he wished that there was trutl
in Col De Arnaud's statement that the
reports of famine in Russia were eXag-
gerated and that Russia needs no aid.
In u few of the southern provinces,
he says, crops we're good, and it may bt
that Col. De Arnuud's information
comes from these sections.
Mr.. Greger says the Russian Govern
the distress, and the son Of the EN-
peror is at the head of the relief com
nlittee.
. All the mem bers of the legation here,
t he said, have turned over their salaries
to the relief committee.
"Col. De Arnaud thinks l have placed
my government in an embarrassing po
J, J sition," said Mr.. Greger, 'by accepting
the gift of the Minneapolis millers Al
d a matter of fact, l cabled my govern
ment before replying to the Offer anC
d the Russian Department of state cablet
}: that they would gladly accept the offer
"The donation is but drop in tin
. bucket compared with the people
needs, but Russia accepts the offer will
the hope of reciprocating should Amer
lea, unfortunately, ever be placed in
similar deplorRble position"