Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-06
The Catu eaxy Matter.

Inc secretary OF State O-day transmitted to
the Senate the official correspondence upon the
subject Of the retirement o. Minister Catacazy.
The first letter of Mr.. Fish to Mr. Curtin, our
Minister at ST. Petersburg, is dated june 10Th,
and States: "I am directed to inform YOU that
the conduct Oh Mr.. CatacaZy, the Minister of
Russia here, both official and personal. has for
some time past been such as TO materially i'm
pair his usefulness to his government, and to
rtDder intercourse with him for either business
or social purposes highly disagreeale. Under
these circumstances the President is OF the
opinion that the interests Of both countries
would be promoted and those relations Of cordi-
atty with the government of the Gar OF the
importance of which he is well aware would be
placed upon much surer footing il the head of
the Russian Legation here were to be changed"
Another letter o. Secretary Fish to Minister
Curtin, dated November 10th last, states that on
his arrival at Washington MT. Catacazy gave
promise Of being useful and very acceptable
Minister, and made an agreeable impression.
Soon, However, he began to make himself very
ohc1ous, interfering in questions not apprOpri-
ately connected with his legation and in those
pending before Congress, importuning Senators
and Representatives, and resOrtng to personal
interviews and solicitations unusual on the part
OF the representatives of other powers accredited
to this government, dstasteful and ANNOYING to
the legislators thus indecOrOusly approached,
Of legislation on the subjects with respect
to which his interference was obtruded
He did not hesitate to use the newspapers Of the
country to influence public opinion upon ques-
tons pending before the government, and in
dulged in much license in his denunciation of
measures and Of individuals. In his converse
tons he was even more severe and unrcstrained
and employed abusive, vituperative language
towards very many persons, including several in
PUBLIC positions and enjoying the respect and
confidence OF the community. The impropriety
OF foreign minister thus attempting to iu,Iu-
ence and TO misdirect the public opinion of the
country must be admitted as suffic ient ground
for his ceasing to be proper agent between the
government which he represents and that to
which he is accredited.
dispatch from Minister Curtain 10 Secre-
tary Fish announces that the r. quest for the re-
call OF MIR. Catacaey had rot been presented, as
the Minister of Foreign Affairs was absent and
the under Secretary thought IL was matter of
too much importance for him to act upon. To
this Secretary Fish replied that the Russian
Minister OF Foreign fairs could be reached
and ii was important that the matter should be
settled before the visit OF the Grand Duke to this
country, as the President could not be expected
to receive as the principal attendant TO his
Highns IS one who has been abusive of himself
and personally unacceptable. Finally, the
Russian government requested that NJ Cata-
cay be tolerated here until after the presenta-
ton OF the Grand Duke to the President and TO
this request our government acceeded. Hence
Mr.. CatacZy ceased to represent the Russian
Empire after the presentation.