New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-05
MR.. CATACAZY'S MISSION.

CRITICISM IN RUSSIA on THE CORRESPONDENCE
~ THE CAsE-sEMI-OFFICIA STATEMENT BY
A RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF THE MOTIVES OF
TIE UNITED STATES.
IFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNBl
ST. PETERSBURG, JAM S.-The note of Prince
Gortschakon TO Mr. Curtin the Catacazy affair has
gwen rise good deal of criticism 1t evidently
written for the public shown by its official pubica
ton the day it sent In order to put the best
face possible on disagreeablo alir. Those who read
the dispatch Mr. Fish Of Nov &c. which reprinted
here, surprised at the way in which the Chancellor
the points at issue and represents the specific
complaints against Mr.. Cataclzy which had been asked
superiluous accusations and the reasons which
request for Mr.. Cataeazys recall
ms q demand for his condemnation. Tho term local
correspondence" as applied To the notes between Mr.
Catacazy and Mr. Fish, which are IN every sense parts OF
the whole d0ssier, strikes every very singular.
Those who well versed in diplomatic matters call the
note very weak reply to Mr. Fls's dispatch, and
who know say tha Prince GOrschakoG had the az
his disposal Of put ing the position OF the Russian Gov
eminent in a much better light, and Of explaining the
sppular delay that was made I'm complying with the
quest OF the United States II Is said however, that
some OF the dignarcs of the Foreign Office are in dis
favor for the way the hole affair has been managed
The effect of Mr Fishs dispatch was very pleasant on
most people here who know Mr.. Caaeazy and who re-
membered the opposition there was to his original alN
pontnent They they not surprised, and could
not expect anything better Of such a man Their only
asOnishmcnt Is that Of his known character cOnd
ever have been allowed TO represent Russia in great
nation like the United States. Mr.. Catacazy has, how
ever found defcudcr The Moseoo Gazette published
on Friday lg editorial the CtlcGzy affair, which
am told is evidently inspired from the Foreign Office IL
contains some remarkable passages Ii has been said
here that this article represents the feeling OF the coun
try but it seems only exceedingly skilllul at
tenpt to direct the feeling OF the country, which Will
undoubtedly do People who have not read the dis
matches as they were printed will accept these state
ments will believe that Mr.. Fish has exaggerated the
oenses Russian Minister and will perhaps accept
too the remarkable conclusions OF the Moscow editor.
The gazette speaks first Of the paragraph in the Presi
dents Message concerning Catacazy and then OF the
dispatches recently published which seem intended to
explain the "indefnte statements of the President"
These dispatches. it says, were evidently published by
the wish OF Mr. Fish, for through his Efforts MI Sumner
had removed from the chaimanshp OF the Senate
Committee Foreign Affairs to give place to more
subseryient person The gazette then reviews the dhi-
cutcs OF Mr.. Catacazy with MI Fish arising out OF the
Perkins clam (which Mr.. Fish takes warmly to heart
aud the accusations of writing newspaper articles made
by certain Mr. Frank Turk" and "a dismissed trans
lator called Tasistro" 1t then continues
All this improbable story il told in the mnutest detal
in the dispatch Of Mr. Fish IT Is aiterwaTd stated III
10 ohstruct and interrupt the negotiations between inc
United States and Great Britain with regard TO their
differences We admit we cannot hhuetstahu hoM =
Russian Minister could embarrass negotiations IN when
invited to participate but FISH,
set forth with much detail the evidence Of certain
doubtful persons with regard 10 the newspaper aUces,
is silent - 10 the particulars OF ms anar W, led
perfectly ignorant how Russian Minister could prevent
"A friendly understanding between EnSlan Gnu AhSllc'
but We know at least that Russian diplomacy j. not
called either In Washington or London To tiIlile ltst
about this understanding which VIII proD@py nov pe
real or sincere.
The Ga-ee next speaks the disaGreeabie personal
relations between Mr.. Catacazy and Mp Fish, and asks
that, Mr. CatacaZy to blame was there any
need of exaggerating and making diplomatic ques-
ton Of a personal matter and of publishing It to the
whole worldf What American interest could demand
tlati And quotations follow from MI. "lnthrOps
speech Boston to shoy that no American interest
could. The article then says:
It Is profitable every nation t9 be good friends with
another with whom IL has scores To setle. lh,s VIII
give II a greater freedom OF action, greater indeen
dence regard that nation with when u mas oupes
and with which conflict II possible But II no interest
Oftbe United States caused personal 1sagteemehtt 10
he inflated into political question: teiI IL hsI nav
been an hostile that of America what interest
ia thaif There il a Power with which America always
has 10 pay of, with when tnere " now al m
finished dispute about TO I'VE re,errou 70 S r commo
land frontier rivals ON the sea- ana carry on 49,
foreign commerce England also has sc0ss WIN hssla
and jealousy watches her Englahu So, , u anJ
with dissatisfaction the mutual sympathy OF hssa AN
America. Thus not the American nnt tne Engm nId
interests would demand that me secretary sno ,h
eNaggernte the significance OF his quarrel WIN the
Russian Minister. False relations can spring up pet"eoh
nations as well between persons, and we nnuerslahu
that the calculations of Engeh policy t would Us
very convenient that false relations should spring up
between Russia and America. One word aiter ahotneI
and a dispute can arise from nothing, without any
foundation. but not the less real lrritaDe
respect would b. disturbed and the best relations woud
be destroyed Happily In the present case sncii "a
cuations could have no success. The dispute 81 MI
Fish with Mr. Catacazy produced no effect either ~
Russia or In America The Russian GoNcrihsh, entered
into no contradiction and yielded 10 'ne r.,i
an official statement the false INTERPRETATIONS
called out BY the untrue piormauVh' anu as' 'hil