Evening star., 1938-09-18
ny the Associated Press,

~ shc aa6bOClALc0 EJeO1s
Long-secret documents have dis
closed the plant Of q Russian diplo-
mat who sold Alaska to the United
States.
His Cars $4,000 gift was hardly
compensation. the diplomatic sales
man complained, for the years he
spent in getting the maximum price
from America for q territory already
endangered by American "filibust-
erers."
The inside story of the Alaskan
purchase, once called Stewards folly"
(after the then Secretary Of State), is
contained in documents just opened
to study Of American diplomats by the
Soviet government.
The Russian Minister and Privy
Councillor Edousrd de Stoeckl had been
intrlsted to sell Alaska for IS, ,000, 900,
but he brought his 15-year long efforts
In Washington to an able finish by out
trading the eager Secretary Seward,
who was anxious to use the Alaskan
purchase to re-establish his waning
popularity.
Complained to q Friend.
Mr. Seward offered $5,0OO,000 in
the final negotiations, but the Minister
held firm for 100000, made the
United States throw in 100000 as an
exchange differential between dollar
values in New York and London, and
forced Mr.. Seward to foot a $1,000
cable bill to st. Petersburg, in addition.
StOeckl was an old and tired man
on completion of this important work
which these documents now show was
begun In 1853 instead Of several years
later as supposed. The Car granted
him $4,000 rubles (about 100000.
His official dispatch was full Of
flowery expressions for this remem-
brance, but to a friend, Westman,
holding the equivalent Of Undersecre-
tary of State in foreign ofice, Stoeckl
was more outspoken.
"As far as my pecuniary compen-
sation is concerned" he wrote, Il
feel that one might have been more
generous, if one considers that I OBJ
tanned the maximum which had been
fixed and that in order to conduct
this affair I passed up a post in
Europe and God knows whether I
shall have another chance. But after
all, it is something"
Fears Brought the Sale.
Stoeckls troubles were not over with
the treaty Of sale. 1t took nearly two
years before an angry Congress ap-
propriated the money to pay Russia,
during this time, Russia considered
sending proud note telling the United
States either to pay for Alaska or
take it without paying for it. This
plan was dropped when it was sug-
gested the alternative might be ac-
cepted.
Two men and two alone were re-
sponsible for the sale of Alaska
Bought for song and worth untold
billions. They were Stoeckl, who
negotiated with the backing Of his
Gar, and Mr.. Seward, who, trying
for a political comeback, stumbled into
purchase of Americas greatest terri
tory.
Alaska had been administered up
to the Civil War by the decadent and
unsound Russian American Co. Alaska
was Russia's problem child. its defense
thorny problem, its profits non-
existent, its upkeep costly. There was
constant fear that American fili-
busterers would seize upon 1t, or worse,
that another European power would
take it over.
Resumed After Civil War.
Stoeckl, great realist, even feared
the harrassed Mormons would cast
their eyes northward in their search
for home. thus forcing Russia to
"the alternative of providing an army
Of defense or renouncing a part of
our territory. His initial discussions
were encouraged by Senator Gwin Of
California, but before either country
could get down to bartering the Civil
War was on and the Alaskan deal
was of.
With peace, however, Stoeckl was
quick to strike again. He went to
st. Petersburg in 1866 and, through
his continued pressure, the Gar him.
self called secret meeting. Russian
interests had clashed again with the
British and the Russians were in q
mood to welcome anything to relieve
their problems in the Far East. +
Stoeckl dwelt upon this. He also
stressed cordial Amercan-Russian re-
lations resulting from Russia's neu-
trality in the Civil War. Curiously,
no thought whatever was given to