The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-01
Russia's Gold Offer.
Question of Acceptance Not
Yet Definitely Settled.
MORE DETAILS OF THE AT
FAIR.
Washington Post.


The Post yesterday morning that
Russia had offered to share with this
country one-half of her enormous
stock Of gold created, as might have
been expected, the most intense
interest in financial. political and
official circles. The definite detail
with which the announcement was
made was sufficient evidence of its
verify, and consequently the propo-
sition was discussed with full ap-
probation of its existence.
Although the offer of Russia was,
in fact, the only topic of conversa-
ton yesterday, dwar6ng even the
occurrence of the greatest holiday Of
the year, there is really little sub
stantial Importance to add to the
very complete statements which The
Post has already made. 1t was said
yesterday that under the stress of a
constantly raided gold reserve, and
the apparent impossibiIity Of secur-
ing from English capitalists anything
like a sufficient amount to replete
that reserve except at exorbitant
terms, this government had applied
to Russia for assistance, with the
knowledge that Russia has to day
the largest store of gold Of any
country in the world The appeal
vas responded to at once in the
most liberal manner by the offer of at
]. least 100000, 900 gold, to be loan
ed, if necessary, without interest.
An inkling of this situation reaching
the ears of the Rothschilds, the rep
resentatives of that great financial
house came here to offer to the
President all the gold that this coun-
try might need upon terms more
advantageous to us than had ever
before been conceded under any Cir
cumstances 1t was to- make this
prefer that j. Pierpont Morgan came
to Washington on Tuesday, and hav-
ing made it, he left for New York to
report that he had executed his mis-
sion, but that be had not been posi-.
lively advised as TO the the position
which this country would take
As the natural result of the publi-
cation in The Post, the members of
the cabinet and other officials of the
government were Yesterday besieged
for information regarding Russia's
offer. While none of them would
discuss the matter, none of them
was in a position to deny the accu-
racy of the circumstantial story. It
is learned, however, in addition to
what was printed yesterday, that it
would have been possible for this
country to have availed itself of
Russia's gold supply at the time of
the last daip upon the gold reserve,
for the willingness Of that country to
come to our financial assistance was
made known to Mr.. Cleveland at that
time. The offer was then made to
Secretary Gresham through Prince
Cantacuzene, then Russian minister
to Washington. The impression
seems to now obtain that this was
the last of the affair, because at that
time the President saw fit to obtain
gold from other sources. This was
not the case. 1t was the knowledge
of this former offer, then made with
out solicitation, which led the Presi-
dent quite recently 10 look to Russia
for the gold which this country finds
it so difficult to secure and hold. 1t
is true, however, that the offer had
nothing. even in the most remote way,
to do with the critical stage reached
by the Venezuelan difficulty. That
stage had not, in fact, been reached
when the negotiations for gold were
resumed. and it can be said that
there is not the slightest intention on
the part of either government to
enter into a military alliance either
now or in the future. The condition
is purely financial one, and has no
bearing upon possible disagreement
with Great Britain Russia's inter-
ests are, of course, with the United
States. and if her gold is taken now
it will be accepted in the spirit of
friendliness in which it is offered.
RUSSIAN GOLD NAY BE ACCEPTED.
The situation remains in the same
uncertain state in which Mr. Morgan
left it on Tuesday evening. Com
munications have passed freely be-
tween the capitals Of the United
States and Russia, and there is an
impression, which is not. however,
absolutely confirmed by the word of
any one familiar with the negotia-
tions, that the gold which this coun-
try needs will come from Russia A
prominet western senator, who has
given considerable attention to 6nan-
rn~roco~to