Evening star., 1915-09-19


between he United States and
q Russia, ana while It Is still re-
membered by very many Americans
that during the winter Of 1854 a Rus
sian feet Of warships lay IN New York
ships were in the harbor of San Fran
cisco. 1t would seem to have been quite
generally forgotten that there was a
friendly visit Of a Russian squadron to
the Potomac river in the fall and win
ter of 1888.
Russian friendship for the United
States was manifested early in the his
tory of this country. November 80.
1776. Gen. Sir William Howe. in COM
mand Of the British forces and station
ed in New York, wrote to Lord George
Germain that $4,000 more troops were
needed to subjugate the rebels and that
he hoped to get them from Russia,
Russian mercenaries could be obtained.
1t Is written in the annals Of the re-
lations between the United States and
Russia that 'in 1880 Catherine II, in
toward the United States and neutral
ships. promulgated Russias famous
armed neutrality rescrlpt that gave great
comfort to our distressed countrymen
of those days. England finally in 1881
offered to deed to Russia, Minorca, a
naval station in the Mediterranean, in
exchange for Russia's aid, but the offer
was refused by Catherine II. The moral
support of France and Russia was with
the struggling republic from the begin
ming of the American revolution, and
while the aid from France finally took
a solid and material form, that Of Rus
sia was valuable. A writer on Russo
American relations has said that the
k,,5~ hSe
period brought about more than any
thing else the introduction and passage
of the resolution through our Congress
that has been the foundation stone of
our foreign relations ever since, and
which was epitomized by Washington
in the following familiar words:
Friendly relations with ALL entangling
relations with none.'"
1t is written that Count Worowzow,
ambassador of Russia at London, ap-
preached Rufus King. American min
lister to Great Britain. in the fall of
1890 on the subject of forming closer
relations with Russia and expressed
the most friendly feelings of his gov
ernment toward the United States, and
that Levitt Harris of Pennsylvania,
who was the first consul appointed to
st. Petersburg, personally reported to
President Jefferson that. although only
a consul. he had received '.1attering
attention and most signal proofs of
regard for the United States.
One of the pleasant things in the re-
lations between the United States and
Russia was letter written by En-
peror Alexander in his own hand, un-
der date of August rs. 1906, to Presi-
dent Jefferson, congratulating him on
his reelection. Writers on the life OF
Emperor Alexander have credited him
Constitution of the United States and a
great admirer Of President Jefferson
The first American minister to Russia
was John Quincy Adams. and at pri-
Alexander. November 5. 1909, the en-
peror said: Between Russia and the
United States there could be no inter
ference of interests and no cause for
discussion, but that by means OF COM
merce the two nations might be of
great use to each other, and 1t is my
desire to give the greatest extension
and facility to this means Of mutual
benefit
In the messages and papers Of the
President it can be read that Presi-
dent Madison, in his address to Con-
gress, November 5, 1911. said: Our
foreign relations remain without un-
favorable changes; with Russia they
are on the best of friendship" 1t was
in 1913 that Russia offered mediation
to bring about peace between England
and the United States. but the proposal
was declined by England.
One may read In the history of our
civil war period that Napoleon III. in
1863, sought to form a coalition be-
tween France, England and Russia for
the recognition of the Confederate
states. plan which he thought might
lead to the disruption of the United
States, favor his plans in Mexico and
which might also lead to the recovery
of Louisiana, which was sold to the
United States by Napoleon 1. Russia
rejected the proposal. There is also of
record a letter written by Gladstone
to Henry Clews Of New York, dated
May 80. 1889, in which Mr.. Gladstone
says that at no time did Great Britain
give countenance to the suggestion of
Napoleon III.
A Russian feet under command of Ad-
miral Lesonsky lay in New York harbor
throughout the winter of 1863-64, and
another was in San Francisco harbor for
the same period. Their mission has never
been disclosed oficia1ly. The following
statement by Thurlow Weed may be found
in his memoirs.