The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-16
The Cntacnzy lmbr0giiO.

The Cntacnzy lmbr0aliO.
The diplomatic sparring between the United
States and Russia over Mr. Catacazy aud his
removal shows how much evil might grow out
of one questionable step in the beginning.
The original cause of the unpleasantness exist
ing between the two gOvemments-and we
hope it may amount to nothing more than uu-
pleasantness, which will soon pass away-was
the Perkins claim. That, however, has
almost been lost sight of by circumstanc es
evolved from it, in which both the State Depart
ment at Washington aud Mr.. Catacazy were to
blame. The bad feeling engendered on one
side by the energetic and persistent pressure
of this doubtful claim on the Russian govern
ment by the State Department, through the
influence of set of schemers within and with
out the social or political circle of the govern
ment at Washington, and on other side by the
temper. resistance and imprudence exhibited
by the Russian Minister, led to other CON-
plications and to charges and counter charges
of wrong on both sides.
Not long after the close of the Crimean war,
about sixteen or seventeen years ago, Captain
Perkins, of Worcester, Mass. made a
claim against the Russian government for war
supplies, which, he alleged, an agent of that
government had contracted for, but which
were never received by Russia and never
shipped from the United States. Perkins
claimed to have been put to expense in pre-
pairing to fulfil the contract when the Russian
government, through its Minister here, Mr..
Stocked, denied the authority of the pre-
tended Russian agent to make such contract
and refused to recognize it or the claim Of
Perkins. The claimants never pretended that
anything was supplied to Russia or had been
shipped from this country. Perkins was a
poor man, a sea captain, and if there was any
loss arising from the reputation by Russia of
the pretended verbal contract it could only
fall on those who might have made an agree
ment with Perkins to supply the war mate
rails. It is questionable If any or much
damage resulted to any one. But, admitting
that there was contract made by a
duly authorized agent of Russia though
only verbal one, the amount of
damage would have been small comparatively.
The Russian government has, however,
denied the contract all through, and refused
to admit the claim. Certain parties in Wash
ington took up this claim, and have persist
emily urged it through all the changes OF
government in this country and in Russia.
Our own government took little notice of il
or action about it, except as 10 the ordinary
way of assisting American citizens to have Q
fair show in presenting case against foreign
government, until Mr. Fish entered the State
Department. There is reason to believe, in
deed, that all of his predecessors had some
doubt about the validity of the claim. AT any
rate, 1t was never pressed before. 1t appears
now that the amount of the claim has grown
enormously with time, and that the origina
damage, if any, OF few tn ousand dollars
swells up to over half million. There was
suspicion that persons having influence owe
the Secretary Of State, and that some, in fact
in the State Department, have been co-operat
ing with the combination of agents to force
this claim, believing that Russia would yielt
rather than risk a difficulty with the Unite'
States. But the Russian government is 81
convinced Of the want of foundation for thu
claim, as 1t always has been, and that II is {
stupendous Washington job that Mr.. Gaia
Gays opposition to 1t has received th,
approval of the Gear.
Out Of this, then, as we said, other Difficult
} ties have arisen. Mr.. Catacazy may nc
! have acted wisely In his intercourse wit