The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-05
MODERN HISTORY.

The Russian Government and the Coup
d'Etat-HOw it Came that England
and France were Arrayed Against the
Czar.
From the Pail Mall Gazette
M. Davydof has published in the Russian
Archives a conversation which he had after the
outbreak of the Crimean war with NJ. Kisselef,
Russian Ambassador at Paris at the time of the
coup d'etdt. After the Crimean war had been
declared he says, he met NJ Kisselef at Brus-
sells. He expressed his astonishment that NJ.
Kisselef had not succeeded in arranging the diff
ference. Nj. Kisselef replied that he was sacri-
feed by the St. Petersburg Government, though
it alone had committed the fault. Immediately
after the review of Satory and the speech of
Dion, he had foreseen the coming of the EN-
pre, and asked for instructions to his
conduct in case of that event. The answer, in
which he was told that such an event would not
happen so soon and that he would receive in
structions at the right moment, betrayed only
animositY and irresOlution The Empire was
proclaimed; the other powers recogniz ed it at
once; he alone received not word from his
Government and had, therefore, no resource
left but to simulate an attack of gout. Never
theless, he received, after some days, an invita-
tion to a ball at the Tuileres. Knowing that
Napoleon never did anything without purpose sc,
he threw off his velvet boots and went to the
ball. When the Emperor approached the diplo-
matte body, he withdrew to q distance, still
hoping to escape from an embarrassing position.
However the Emperor came up to him, and,
having inquired about the attack of gout, in
vited him to a window embrasure, where, after
ascertaning from NJ. kisselef that instruc-
tions as TO his recognition by Russia had as yet
arrived, he spoke as folows:-"I am Emperor
by the will of God and of the French people,
but also by mine. l am Emperor because l am
very ambitious. Having ascended the throne,
am obliged to take some reign for model. The
reign of my uncle contains too many faults
which were the consequences of his system. 1t
is your Emperor, the Emperor Nicholas, whom
I have chosen for my hero, and whom l desire
to initiate. For long time already have felt
admiration and Involuntary sympathy for that
sovereign who at present repulses with disgust
my plebeian hand, and to whom | offer it not
only as to my brother, but as to my model hero.
l open my heart to you that you may trans
NIT freely my thoughts and my sentiments
to your Emperor. England besets me with
her offers of alliance but that alliance re-
pugns me. If | concluded it | should see
everywhere the irritated shade of my uncle.
Your Emperor alone could force me into that
alliance. offer to him. honestly and sincerely,
cordial political alliances the world will then
be ours England will be no more. But for that
1 want an alliance of life and death. Let him
extend his hand to me fraternally, and the des-
TIMES of the world will be changed But if do
not fad the alliance of Russia [ shall cast my
self with an oppressed heart into the arms of
England, for must have an alliance. Transmit
teXtually my words. When you have received
favorable answer come to me at once, and l
shall receive you with joy. Now let us separate
we are drawing the attention of everybody upon
us. The British ambassador tries to guess our
conversation. lie is deVOurlng us with his eyes.
Soon au reyoir." On returning home NJ. Kisse-
lef found dispatches just arrived from st.
Petersburg. They contained the order to de-
clare Immediately to NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys that
the Emperor Nicholas recognized Louis Napo-
leon Emperor Napoleon H. but not as Ma
poleOn ILL., and that owing to his ignorance
of Napoleon's future policy, he could not yet
address him as "My brother" but would for
some time treat him as "My dear friend" NJ.
Kisselef could not bring himself to execute this
order, but Immediately sent M. Balabine to st.
Petersburg to explain personally to Count Nes-
selrode all the importance of Napoleon's COM
municatien. After some time he received an
answer worded thus:-'The Emperor is very
dissatisfied with your conduct. He
orders you to call Immediately upon NJ
Drouyn de Lhuys, and to communicate
to him the preceding despatch" NJ. Kis-
selefs narrative terminates as follows:-"l
went at once to the French Foreign Office. My
face must have betrayed all my impressions. NJ.
Drouyn de Lhuys said to me- bad news, NJ.
Kisseef?" / communicated the first despatch.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs OBJ
served, THAT is very sad indeed. We can bear
ne grudge to you personally, but this caprice is
so much the more regrettable as it may be fatal
to your Government. l shall see the Emperor
at once" Subsequent events opened our eyes,
but it was too late. To our detriment the alli-
aBce with England had been concluded.