99 Gross 1863. Morier, for your Lordship's information, and I also inclose a statement, with a No. 699. translation by Mr. Jocelyn, copied into the Berlin newspapers from the „, Cologne britannien, 11. April Gazette," which professes to contain the instructions sent to General Werder, the Commander-in-chief at Posen, as to the treatment and disposal of all persons crossing from Poland into Prussia. I have inquired of M. de Bismarck whether the contents of this document are authentic; but he professed to be unacquainted with them, and not to be, therefore, able to answer my inquiry, though he said some arrangements must have been made by the Departments interested as to the manner in which the numerous Russian refugees and Prussian subjects escaping from the ranks of the insurgents into Posen should be disposed of, and as to the localities where their respective cases should be duly investigated. ¶ Should these instructions be genuine, and not ingeniously invented to excite ill-feeling against the Prussian Government, they would seem to imply, on the part of the latter, the intention not only of delivering up to Russia all such individuals as Russia has a right to claim, but likewise that of forcing back upon Russia those that she does not claim, and against whom no criminal charge lies. It is, at least, difficult to see what other interpretation can be given to the wording of the paragraph respecting Category C of the persons arrested, which states that such persons as are not liable to military service in Russia, and against whom no charge can be brought, are to be treated according to Article XXIII of the Cartel Convention of 1857. By referring to this paragraph of the Convention in question, of which I only obtained a copy this morning after I had last seen M. de Bismarck, I find that it invests each of the Contracting Parties with the right of compelling the other Contracting Party to take back all individuals being subjects of the latter who may have crossed into the territory of the former: Chacun des deux États s'oblige à reprendre ceux de ses propres sujets dont l'autre État voudrait se débarrasser," &c., &c. Should these instructions, therefore, be literally carried out, all Russian subjects whatever crossing into Prussia during the period of the insurrection in Poland, might come ultimately to find their way back into Russia-the suspected at the demand of Russia, the unsuspected at the demand of Prussia. I shall not fail at the earliest opportunity again to call M. de Bismarck's attention to these instructions, and to ask his Excellency, in the event of their being genuine, whether it is the intention of the Prussian Government to carry them out in their full vigour. I have, &c. To Earl Russell, London. Andrew Buchanan. No. 700. No. 700. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Botschafter in St. Petersburg an den königl. Min. d. 1st 13th Ausw. St. Petersburgh, April 12 (received April 18), 1863. My Lord, The official newspaper of this morning contains the inclobritannien, sed Manifesto offering a free pardon to all parties who have been concerned in 12. April 1863. the recent insurrection in Poland, saving those who shall continue in arms after the of May next*). The only exceptions specified are persons guilty of other crimes, or such as have violated their military duty. The maintenance of the institutions recently granted to Poland in all their integrity is promised, and the Emperor reserves to himself the duty of developing those institutions hereafter in conformity with the wants of the times and the country. A separate Ukas offers a similar amnesty to parties engaged in the disorders within the boundaries of the Western Governments of Russia. From the phraseology of the Decree some doubt might arise as to whether the proffered amnesty be intended to apply to those who have already been delivered over to justice, or only to those who are still in arms, and who may come in before the expiration of the term of grace. One of my colleagues informs me, however, that he knows from competent authority that the amnesty is intended to apply to both classes alike. The Imperial Manifesto is conceived in a tone of humanity and clemency which is congenial to the character of the Emperor; a religious physiognomy is given to it, which we are familiar with in Russian documents of State; the sense of it is undoubtedly consistent with the interests of the Imperial Cabinet and with the wishes of Her Majesty's Government. We may regret that the discontents in Poland are simply referred to the instigations of foreign or exiled revolutionary agents a statement which cannot be sincere, even on the part of the most zealous Russian; and that no mention is made of the military recruitment, which was the proximate provocation of the late revolt. The Russian Government might have used a bolder sincerity with advantage; they might have avowed an error which they feel, and have promised a remedy which they have in view. This act of mercy has been appropriately promulgated on Easter Sunday. How far it has been prompted by the expectation of foreign intervention, I am not able to affirm with confidence. I am inclined to think that it may have been accelerated by such apprehensions, but it is also plainly consistent with policy, as well as with the benevolent disposition of the Sovereign. I have, &c. To Earl Russell, London. Napier. *) No. 602. GROSSBRITANNIEN. burg. - No. 701. - Min. d. Ausw. an den kön. Botschafter in St. PetersBemerkungen über die russische Amnestie. 31st March Foreign Office, April 24, 1863. Gross 1863. Sir, I have received and laid before the Queen your Excellency's No. 701. despatch of the 12th instant, inclosing a copy of a Manifesto on Polish affairs britannien, 24. April issued by the Emperor of Russia on the 12th April¶ Her Majesty's Government have carefully and anxiously considered the contents of this document in the hope to find in it the germ of a restoration of peace, and a hope of good government to Poland. I have to make to you the following remarks as the result of their deliberations. An amnesty may lay the foundation of peace in two cases: 1. If the insurgents have been thoroughly defeated, and are only waiting for a promise of pardon to enable them to return to their homes. 2. If the amnesty is accompanied with such ample promises of the redress of the grievances which gave occasion to the insurrection, as to induce the insurgents to think that their object is attained. It is clear that the first of these cases is not that of the present insurrection. ¶ It is not put down; it is, on the contrary, rather more extensive than it was a few weeks ago. Let us, then, examine the amnesty with reference to the second of the supposed cases. The Emperor, referring to the institutions which he has conferred („, octroyées") on the Kingdom of Poland, says: — „En maintenant encore aujourd'hui ces institutions dans leur intégrité, nous nous réservons, lorsqu'elles auront été éprouvées dans la pratique, de procéder à leur développement ultérieur selon les besoins du temps et ceux du pays." This promise can hardly be satisfactory to the Poles. For it must be observed with regard to the institutions already given, that it was during their existence that 2,000 young men were seized arbitrarily in the night, and condemned to serve as soldiers in the Russian army in defiance of justice, and even in violation of the Law of 1859, so recently enacted. So that it is evident no security would be obtained by submitting again to the same laws. With those institutions in full force and vigour, innocent men might be imprisoned as criminals, or condemned to serve as soldiers, or banished to distant countries, without a trial, without publicity, without any guarantee whatever. As to the promise held out for the future, it must be observed that it is made to depend on the practical working of these institutions, and on the wants of the time and of the country. The first of these conditions alone destroys all reasonable hope of the fulfilment of this promise. For the practical working of the institutions hitherto given, depends on the co-operation of native Poles of property and character as Members of the Council of State, and of Provincial and Municipal Assemblies. But the recent conduct of the Russian Government in Poland Gross No. 701. has deprived them of the confidence of all Poles of this description, and forced britannien, all such Poles to withdraw from the bodies in which their functions were to be 24. April 1863. exercised. There are wanting, therefore, in this Imperial Manifesto, the first elements of success, namely, a guarantee of security on the one side, and the feeling of trust and confidence on the other. In a despatch of Lord Durham, then Ambassador at St. Petersburgh, dated in August 1832, Lord Durham says, -,,There has long been a jealousy, nay, hatred existing between the Russians and Poles." Her Majesty's Government had hoped that the present Emperor, by raising the social position of his Russian, and securing the political freedom of his Polish, subjects, might have united both by the link of loyal attachment to the throne. This hope has been unfortunately disappointed, and it is with great pain that Her Majesty's Government observe that the feelings of hatred between Russian and Poles have not in the lapse of thirty years been softened or modified. The present amnesty does not appear likely to diminish the intensity of the insurrection, or give any solid security to the most moderate of Polish patriots. I am, &c. To Lord Napier, St. Petersburgh. Russell. No. 702. Gross No. 702. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Min. d. Ausw. an d. königl. grossbrit. Vertreter bei den europäischen Höfen (mit Ausnahme der er von Paris, St. Petersburg und Wien). Uebermittlung der an den Botschafter in St. Petersburg gerichteten Depesche vom 10. April*). — My Lord (Sir), Foreign Office, April 22, 1863. I transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch britannien, which I addressed, on the 10th instant, to Her Majesty's Ambassador at the 22. April 1863. Court of Russia, instructing him to make a communication to the Cabinet at St. Petersburgh on the subject of the affairs of Poland. You will communicate a copy of this despatch to the Government to which you are accredited, and invite them to make a communication of a similar tendency to the Russian Government. I understand from Lord Cowley that your French colleague is instructed to communicate, with the like request, a copy of the despatch on the same subject which has been addressed by M. Drouyn de Lhuys to the French Ambassador at St. Petersburgh. I am, &c. Russell. *) Nro. 708. GROSSBRITANNIEN. No. 703. Botschafter in St. Petersburg an d. kön. Min. d. Ausw. Bericht über die Uebergabe der Abschriften der Depeschen Frankreichs, Englands und Oesterreichs an den Fürsten Gortschakow. St. Petersburgh, April 17, 1863. Gross 1863. (Extract.) I was directed by your Lordship to read your despatch of the No. 703. 10th instant, concerning Poland, to Prince Gortchakoff, and to place a copy of britannien, 17. April it in his Excellency's hands. In order to avoid the inconvenience which might have been attached to separate applications to the Vice-Chancellor for audiences, the Duke de Montebello obligingly offered to convey to Prince Gortchakoff the wish of our respective Governments that we should be received on the same day, and the Vice-Chancellor appointed this forenoon for our successive interviews. This method appeared also to be recommended by the reflection that it gave a joint and common character to our proceeding. The French Ambassador was received first, and delivered a copy of the despatch of M. Drouyn de Lhuys to the Russian Minister, by whom the Duke was informed that the orders of the Emperor would be taken on the subject. I had the honour of seeing the Vice-Chancellor at half-past 11. I stated to his Excellency that I was directed by Her Majesty's Government to read to him a despatch from your Lordship containing the views of Her Majesty's Government on the affairs of Poland, and to leave a copy of it in his hands, in connection with a letter which was conceived in terms similar to those employed by the Representatives of France and Austria for the same purpose. I then gave the two documents to the Prince. His Excellency, after reading your Lordship's despatch aloud, informed me that he would take the orders of His Imperial Majesty, and that the reply of the Russian Government would be communicated hereafter to your Lordship. Count Thun was admitted subsequently, and received a similar answer from the Vice-Chancellor. &c. To Earl Russell, London. Napier. No. 704. FRANKREICH. Botschafter in St. Petersburg an den kaiserl. russ. Min. d. Ausw. Uebermittlung d. von seiner Regierung erhaltenen Depesche in der polnischen Angelegenheit. Prince, St-Pétersbourg, le Ì7 avril 1863. Ayant reçu de mon Gouvernement une dépêche relative à des observations que je suis chargé de présenter au Cabinet Impérial de Russie, je ne crois pouvoir mieux faire que de transmettre à Votre Excellence la copie du document où elles sont consignées. Je saisis, etc. A Mr. le Prince Gortchacow. Duc de Montebello. |