St. Paul daily globe., 1891-12-28
Col. Charles de Arnaud Says
His Country men Are Not
in Distress.
The Cars Millions of Reserve
Sufficient for All the
Poor.
Americas Proffer of Assist
anee to Be Accepted With
Thanks,
Though He Insists Russia Does
Not Need a Single Bit
of 1t.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Col Charles
de Arnaud, author of "The New Era
in Russia" and the welI-known cham
pion of the present car. in an interview
published today, says the reports of dis
tresS from famine i'll Russia are exag-
gerated, and that Russia needs 10 aid.
Il have received" says Col. de Ar
maud, numerous letters of inquiry re-
garding that subject. | invariably an
swer that, from my personal knowledge
OF It's financial resources and natural
productions, l do not believe that the
russian imperial government needs aid
from any foreign country to enable it to
cope with the distress prevailing in
some of its provinces. A recent
letter to me from high
authority at st. Petersburg says:
The fall of snow and the frost was
GOdsend to us. The roads are now in
good condition to reach the distressed
districts by means of Sleighs. The
noble work for the relief of the suffer
Ing peaSantry is going on with wonder
fuI vigor. 1t does ones heart good to
see with what interest the imperial
family, our nobility and people of all
ranks unite now under the ezarewitch
cOulmlttee OF RELIEF. we nave
Plenty OF Supplies
and corn. and there is no longer danger
OF suffering or starvation among the
poor This letter speaks for itself. In
regard TO the movement in the United
| States for the benefit of the starry
ing peaSantry, L venture to say
that the Russian government feels
grateful to the philanGhropic citizens
w
ward with their subscriptions. The
Russian government naturally looks
upon this as a demonstration of the
continuation of the ancient friendship
existing between the two countries, but
am certain, and L speak as Russo
American, thOt the government cannot
stand IN need of outside aid with its
millions at command and abundance of
grain. The $1,000 sacks of -four which
the millerS of the Northwest so gener-
| 0uSly donated the Russian government
is obliged to accept with thanks. but
really they do not need it. Alexander
| Gregor, first secretary OF the Russian
legotion, in the absence of Minister
de Struve. through his youth and mex
perience, has taken upon himself the
responsibility of accepting these dona-
tiOnS on behalf of his government, and
has committed it to accept in such a
manner that out Of gratitude for such
A Spontaneous Outburst
of feeling Oh the part of the American
people they must ratify his act. But l
assure you that the finances of the Rus
sian imperial government are in as
sound condition as ever they were. Rus
sia has always 150,000,000 gold dollars
on deposit in the various capitals of
Europe and IN New York, and at home
they have always several hundred mill
ions of reserved capital, with plenty of
surplus grain. With all this at com
mand l do not see the necessity of tax
ing the good people of this country ON
behalf of suffering Russians. In regard
to the effort of Miss Clara Barton, of
the American Red Cross society, we
cannot call it foreign movement to aid
the sufferers i'll Russia, but an interna-
tlonal one, for the Red Cross society in
America is banch of the society in
Russia, and vice versa. The Red Cross
society in Russia is composed of the
most influential and wealthiest classes,
and 1t came to the aid of the govern
ment in this crisis in true Christian
spirit. Whatever Miss Clara Barton. as
president of the United States branch
OF this great humanitarian organization,
may contribute TO them will be received
with Christian gratitude"