NOTE 149.] Mr. Clay to Prince Gortchacow. A. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, The undersigned has the honor to represent to his excellency Prince Gortchacow, chancellor, &c., to his imperial Majesty, &c., that he is instructed by the Washington government to inform the imperial government that much anxiety has been created in the United States by a report from Captain Mellen, of the American whaling ship Europa, to its owners, that a party of Russians had established a fishery near the city of Okhotsk, in the sea of that name, and that a Russian armed steamer had ordered the ships away in the name of the Russian government, claiming to be so authorized; and that the captain of said steamer had fired upon the boats of the bark Endeavor, of New Bedford. Mr. de Stoeckl has been able to give no information upon the subject. The Secretary of State adds that the statements received at the department are altogether vague and without authentication, and he therefore requests of the undersigned to ascertain from his excellency Prince Gortchacow what are precisely the instructions, if any, given by the Russian government in regard to the fisheries in the Sea of Okhotsk. The American minister has the honor to assure his excellency, the chancellor of the empire, of his most distinguished consideration. C. M. CLAY. Mr. Westmann to Mr. Clay. A B. [Translation from the French.] The chancellor of the empire, who is sick, as you know, my dear general, has charged me to answer your note of the 6th-18th of January, instant. Having asked (demande) of the minister of marine information upon the affair named in your note, Admiral Krabbé has just informed us that the minister of marine has not, up to the present time, any knowledge of the conflict (conflit) which has taken place in the Sea of Okhotsk between the Russian and American ships. Accept, my dear general, of my expression of the most distinguished consideration, WESTMANN. JANUARY 5, 1868. Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. No. 176.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Since I have been at this court the death of no one outside of the imperial family has created so much regret as that of Prince Bazil Dolgorouky, who suddenly died on yesterday night. At near midnight his imperial Majesty and the Grand Duke Heritier hurried at once to the death scene. And to-day her imperial Majesty and the most distinguished perons in St. Petersburg attended the prayers for the departed prince. The funeral in state will take place Monday next. Prince Dolgorouky has been minister of war, and has filled many high offices in Russia, and at his death was aide-de-camp general and grand chamberlain to the Emperor, by whom, perhaps, he was most loved of all his subjects. Though at the head of the old aristocracy, and the center of the élite of Russian society, he was our most cordial and trusting friend. But a few days ago he, in conjunction with Count Strogonoff, the brother-in-law of his imperial Majesty, gave me their photographs and autographs, as souvenirs of their personal and political friendship; but he was, alas, the first to quit the scene of our long and most agreeable association. Such is life and death! SIR: I recur on this occasion to my dispatch No. 273, which related to alleged hostile demonstrations of a Russian armed vessel against a United States whaling vessel in the sea of Okhotsk. That communication was grounded upon mere rumor, which furnished no details and was supported by no evidence. Prince Gortchacow, in his reply, answered substantially that the Russian government had no information of the alleged conflict, and had given no orders or directions under which any hostile demonstrations could have been made. At last I have received details which, however, are very limited, and testimony which is very incomplete. This subsequent information is contained in a dispatch of Morgan L. Smith, esq., United States consul at Honolulu, which is accompanied by a deposition made by Manuel Enos, master of the American bark Java. In brief, Mr. Enos's statement presents the following facts, namely: that on the 27th of July, while he was cruising for whales in Shantar bay, and standing towards Silas Richard's bluff, a Russian armed vessel came towards him apparently under full steam, hoisted its flag, and threw open its ports. An officer from that Russian vessel went on board of the Java and ordered. Captain Enos immediately on board the Russian steamer. The Russian commander demanded to know the business of the United States vessel there. Captain Enos answered that his business was whaling, whereupon the Russian commander ordered Captain Enos to leave the bay within 24 hours, under a threat of taking Captain Enos with his vessel to Nicolawasky, or blowing him out of the water, as the Russian captain should think proper. Captain Enos replied that he had whaled in those bays for the last 17 years, and had never heard of any one being driven out, or of any purpose of excluding whalers. Captain Enos thereupon immediately left Shantar bay. Captain Enos further says that he afterwards learned from some of the crew of the American bark Endeavor, that they, knowing nothing of the trouble, went into the same place, Shantar bay, a few days afterwards, and that their boats were fired into by the same vessel before mentioned, and that they were commanded to leave the bays by threats to the same effect with those which had been made against Captain Enos. The consul transmitting this statement says that he has been unable to procure the name of either the Russian vessel or her commander; that he is informed by the master of the English bark Cobang, that some Finns, subjects of the Czar, have a whaling station there, keeping two schooners in the bay, and having their trying works on shore. If we were at liberty to assume these special statements to be true, and if we were not assured by the Russian government that the transactions complained of occurred not only without its knowledge, but without any authority, we should in that case have reason for profound concern. As the matter stands, with the possibility that similar armed hostile demonstrations may be made on the same quarter, there is reason to apprehend that discontent will arise and perhaps conflict may occur between citizens of the United States and the subjects of Russia in the Sea of Okhotsk. Nothing could be more inconvenient than such difficulties at the present moment, as I am well assured nothing could be more sincerely deprecated by the Russian government. You will give a copy of this communication to Prince Gortchacow, and of its accompaniments, Consul Smith's dispatch and Captain Enos's deposition, and invite Prince Gortchacow to give his attention to the same at his reasonable convenience. SIR: I have the honor to inclose a certified copy of the deposition of Manuel Enos, master of the American whaling bark Java, in relation to his having been driven out of Shantar bay by a Russian vessel of war. I have been unable to procure the name of either the Russian vessel or her commander. Shantar bay is situate in the Okhotsk sea, latitude 58° north. I am informed by the master of the English bark Cobang, that some Finns, subjects of the Czar, have a whaling station there, keeping two schooners in the bay, and having their trying works on the shore. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Manuel Enos, after being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is master of the American bark Java; that on the 27th day of July last past, while cruising for whales in Shantar bay, standing towards Silas Richards' bluff, boiling, we raised a smoke towards Shantar gut, which I supposed to be another whaler trying out; soon after, however, we discovered it to be a Russian steamer coming towards us, apparently under full steam, hoisting his flag and throwing open his ports. I ran up my ensign and hauled aback. An officer came on board and ordered me immediately on board the steamer. On arriving on board the Russian vessel, the commander wanted to know what I was doing there. I told him whaling, of course. Without more ado I was ordered to leave the bays within 24 hours. I told him I had boats in Mercury bay, and could not leave until I had them on board. His answer was: "Boats or no boats, within 24 hours you must leave, or you will be taken to Nikolaievsk or blown out of water, as I shall think proper." I told the commodore that I had "whaled it" in these bays for the last 17 years, and had never heard of any one being driven out, nor even a whisper that such might be the case at some future time. My boats very opportunely returned the same night, and I left Shantar bay. I was afterwards told by some of the crew of the American bark Endeavor that, knowing nothing of the trouble, they came there a few days after, and had their boats fired at by the same vessel. They immediately pulled for their vessel, and were not troubled further than to receive the same orders that I had. MANUEL ENOS. Subscribed and sworn to before me, on the 17th day of December, 1867. M. L. SMITH, United States Consul. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Honolulu, H. I., December 27, 1867. I, the undersigned, consul of the United States of America for Honolulu and the dependencies thereof, do hereby certify that the foregoing deposition, subscribed and sworn to by Manuel Enos, master of the American bark Java, is a true and faithful copy of the original, filed in this consulate, the same having been carefully examined by me, and compared with the said original and found to agree therewith word for word and figure for figure.. Given under my hand and the seal of this consulate, the day and year above written. [SEAL] Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. United States Consul. No. 183.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, March 20, 1868. SIR: To-day I received from Prince Gortchacow a note of this date, in reference to the affairs of the Java, in the Sea of Okhotsk. you a translation of the same from the French. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. I inclose C. M. CLAY. [Translation from the French.] By his note of March 4-16 instant, Mr. Clay, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has transmitted to the imperial ministry a copy of a dispatch from Mr. Seward, accompanied with documents relative to the complaint of Señor Enos, captain of an American whaler, upon the subject of measures of rigor ("de measures de rigeur") of which he had been the object on the part of a vessel of the imperial marine in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk. In response to that communication, the undersigned, chancellor of the empire, has the honor to inform Mr. Clay that the imperial ministry has not received, up to this time, the information which, from the reception of his first note of the 18th of January, it hastened to demand of the competent authorities relative to that affair. As soon as the reports of those authorities shall reach him, the undersigned will lose no time (s'empressera) in communicating them to Mr. Clay. He seizes, in the mean time, this occasion to renew to him the assurance of his very distinguished consideration. ST. PETERSBURG, March 8, 1868. GORTCHACOW. Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. No. 187.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: As I had proposed, I now say a word once more in reference to the "eastern question." As you are no doubt advised from other sources, the understanding between Russia and the western powers in reference to Turkey is becoming more pacific. My opinion was that Russia neither desired nor anticipated war with Turkey; but was strengthening herself with the Christian populations of the south of Europe, as an offset to the discontented Poles of the Roman church. I send you some statistics, from official sources, in regard to the commerce of Russia with Asiathe direction her ambition is really taking. The whole exportation and importation together, between Russia and Asia, in 1866, was 46,573,586 roubles; that is 5,318,859 roubles more than in 1865. The Russian exportation was 21,858,803 roubles, and the imports 24,714,783 roubles, an increase of 3,934,495 roubles in exports, and 1,385,864 roubles in imports over the year 1865. The commerce, from the figures of the last 10 years preceding 1866, shows an aggregate increase of 66 per centum. Thus, while Russia has been carrying on an aggressive or defensive war along the whole border of Asia at times, the commerce with that continent has steadily and is steadily increasing. Thus, while Russia is expanding her domain, she is at the same time enlarging her commerce. The result is civilization of Asia, by putting a part of it under a noble government, and consolidating the power and the peace of the Asiatic nations which remain independent, both of which processes inure to the common benefit of the Asiatic races. The predatory bands, which are ever revolutionary and antagonistic to all development, are subjected to force and law; and the others are checked by fear, and consolidated by the instincts of self-preservation and the power of example. In the mean time Russia carries on the war in central Asia, and colonizes in northern China and the isles of Japan, thus making "points d'appui" for future movements, either political or commercial, with those great centers of population and wealth. All the nations are looking in the same direction, and I therefore call the attention of our government once more to the necessity of our now having some formidable stand-point in the seas bordering on Japan and China, where our armies and navies may rest secure. The mission of Mr. Burlingame may present a favorable opportunity to accomplish so desirable an acquisition. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. No. 199.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, August 14, 1868. SIR: I herein inclose you a translation of the note, from the French of Mr. de Westmann, acting minister of foreign affairs, &c., and a copy of my response in reference to the affair in the Sea of Okhotsk. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. Mr. Westmann to Mr. Clay. The undersigned, acting minister of foreign affairs, in referring to the note which General Clay, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, was pleased to addres to the chancellor of the empire, dated the 4-16th of March ultimo, has the honor to inform him that he has been put in possession of advices which, according to the desire of the federal government, the imperial cabinet hastened to ask of the minister of marine concerning the incident occurring in the Sea of Okhotsk, between an American whaler and a ship of the imperial navy. These are the circumstances: The schooner Aleout, under the command of Lieutenant Etoline, had been sent in commission from Nikolaievsk to Oudrk. The abundance of floating ice having forced him to enter into the Gulf of Tougoursh, he there met, the 14th of July, at about 20 miles to the south of the Straits of Chautusk, near the eastern coast, the American whaler Java, occupied in rendering the oil of a captured whale. Con |