RUSSIA REFUSED SUPPORT BY THE UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 5, 25 February 1871, Page 4

RUSSIA REFUSED SUPPORT BY THE UNITED STATES.

It is a well-known practice of the United States Government, says the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” to semi-official communications .to the representatives of the press at Washington on important subjects,' when for any reason it does not wish to appear directly in the matter and yet desires to act upon public opinion. We presume we are not far wrong in assuming that a statement telegraphed from the national capitol to the “ New York Tribune” of December 2, is of this character. If so, it is of considerable importance to us in this country. For it not only confirms the rumor which got into circulation shortly after the appearance of the Gortschakoff note, to the effect that the Washington Cabinet had had a previous intimation of the attention of Russia to repudiate the Treaty of 1856 , but it distinctly asserts that the Czar’s Government tried to arrive at an understanding with the United States in view of the eventuality of a war with this country, but they failed. Such in a few words is the effect of this remarkable statement. After alluding to the cordial feeling that exists between Mr Fish and the . Russian Minister, the comments and gossip to which this gave rise, and the denial of the Minister, the statement proceeds as follows :—“About three months ago it became the duty of M. Catacazy to approach our Government on the subject of the intentions, then secret, of Russia to demand a revision of the Black Sea Treaty. The St. Petersburg Ministry knew very well that we had no especial interest at stake in the questions of that treaty; but. in view of our relations with England, and the possibility that we would take advantage of war between Russia and that Power to renew our demand for the settlement of the Alabama claims, it was deemed advisable to cultivate the traditional friendship of the United States for Russia, and at the same time get an inkling of our intentioas towards Great Britain. M. Catacazy undertook his duties in the customary diplomatic and roundabout way, the result of which was not at all satisfactory either to him or bis government; in fact he gained

more information from the newspapers than he did from Mr Fish, and of course it was not thoroughly trustworthy. If he had asked point blank what we intended to do, he would have received a definite answer, as M. Prevost Paraded did to his question concerning our neutrality during the Franee-Prussian war. He forthwith informed his Government that the United States would not take advantage of a war between England and Russia to bring about a settlement of the Alabama claims, but would probably act toward these Powers as she is at present acting towards Prussia and France. Prince Gortschakoff was disappointed at this, because he expected that the reputed affection of our people for Russia would develop itself in some more substantial form. He therefore directed M. Cataeazy to use every means at his command to influence our Government to utter a more definite and favorable exposition of its views. The attempt to do so failed, and M. Cataeazy very naturally felt slightly aggrieved, and gave evidence of it. by omitting temporarily his customary official calls on Secretary Fish. This condition of affairs would have continued possibly with grave results had not the proposition for a peace conference been accepted by Russia. Now, however, that there is little prospect of war between England and Russia, and no necessity for efforts to induce our Government to take a decided position against the former, M. Cataeazy has resumed his previous relations, and today visited Secretary Fish.”