The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-06-03
DIPLOMATS IN pETTlCOATS.
The Influence in Foreign Politics of the female
Diplomat.
London -. fumes Gazette.

LondOn ~. Idntes Gazette.
Ii the femal. diplomatst has been kept
more out of sight in the current century,
her influence has been none the less felt IN
foreign politics. She is still "A useful rter-
mediary between Minister and Minister; and
her salon is often turned to account as IA
ambush from which attacks may be directed
against States and Cabinets. a proposal 10
outrage an ally or tear up A treaty coming
from her is not so likely to shock diplomatic
propriety; and her pen never compromises a
Minister or Court, for the dullness Of Blue
and Yellow Books is unrelieved by feminine |
correspondence. And then Minister may
call upon lady, however eminent, without
the fact being telegraphed fom one end OF
Europe to the other. The Metternchs and
Nesselroues of the last generation were we'll
aware of the value of the women's work and
wit in international politics. When the
Austrian Chancellor was working heart and
soul to turn out the pro-Russian Minister of
NJ. de Martignac in Paris, he called into re-
uuistion the ''Inatinees" of the Countess Ap-
ponyi; and the share which the Princess
Lieven had in the intigues of 1927 which
ended in the resi- gnatlon Of the Duke OF
Wellington and the short lived administration
Of Mr.. Canning. is matter which is now
pretty well authenticated.
Russian women, from one reason or another,
seemed at a very early period to have taken
mems part in politics and played them we'll.
They have shown themselves as patient
handmads to st atecraft as French woman to
amusement or Italians to art; and, when
ever plot was Matching, from bed-cham-
Der conspiracy to design against the peace
of Europe, a DaShcof or ProtasOH was sure
to be at the Soverelgns elbow doing her part
to hold the threads of the intrigue. The
melancholy, sentimental character of more
than one Gar has subjugaed them easily to
womeu's influence. The first Alexander
| was always, more or less, under a wumals
thumb, at ONE time i'll a thlald"m to Il
Naryschkine, at an"her to II Baroness
krudener. When this remarkable woIhan
crossed his path the Car was just in that
condition of mind and body to be easily
impressed with the mystic style "t religion
she pre- ached. The exhaustion caused by his
terrible struggle with Napoleon, the gloom
which the burning of Moscow had stamped
| upon his spirit; the errors and sorroWs of
| his domestic lite-all inclined him to fall
back upon religion for support. The Baro-
| ness elOquence, her mysticism, her sentl-
mentalism, together made a conquest of AL
exander's vacillatin., Imaginative disposi-
ton; and; if the Holy Alliance came pot of
| her prompting, the enthusiasm with which
the Gar threw himself into the project was
in all likelihood kindled by this lady.
| In 1910 there was quite galaxy of femln-
inc talent in Paris engaged IN the ntrigaes to
patch up Franco Russian alliance against
England. Princess Leven stood a head and
shoulders above any of them. She was not
the first lady Of that name who had neddled
| with affairs of State. Herhllsband's mother,
the Countess Carlovna, (she was created a
| Princess at Nicholas coronation in 1926 }
had played distinguished part in the reigns
of Catherine, Paul and Alexander l., and
had been Nicholas governess and instructor.
Christopher Andrewitch, the younger son,
had inherited but a small portion of the tai
ents of this remarkable old lady. lie was a
statesman mdigre iui; and if the Princess
Dara Christopharovn did not positively die
tate his dispatches, as some people say she did,
we know that he entered.under her directions
into policies that were often opposed to his
own convictions; for, If he could be called d
diplomatist at ALL he WAS Of the school "i
Nesselrode and Pozzo di Borgo, who thought
ambassadors existed to cOnclliate rival Min.
| isters and prevent mOnaIchs from qIIarirllnl
The story of the Princess successes here a 4
well known-successes which were perhaps
somewhat owing to her admirable apIng "i
English ways and manners. She was the
'rage" in London during many # the nine
teen wears that her husband was anhassad"l
here. Prince Leven died i" 1880. f."
some time there was II" arcreHlt"d RusslaI
Ambassador at tie Court of Louis i'hillipc
and the delicate negotiations which passe'
between st. Petersburg and Paris concern
ing the Eastern Question and the Russ"
French alliance were entrusted tn the hand:
of the Princess Daria.
The two ladies who have in t e" latte
days played the most important part in anna
teur diplomacy-Mme. de Novik"iF and TIN
Princess Lisa TroubetZkoi-have done thei
5 best to act up to the high standard Of intrigue
which the Princess Liven laid down. TIN
> Princess reunions, which had been frequen
ed chiefly by Thierists during the reign o
( the first President ofthe new Republic, be
/ came deserted when her patron fell and SIT
- began to cabal against Marshal MacMahon'
government. Her own government had dis
owned her; and she left Paris in disgust
a having never achieved more than a Succe
u destine. She is only remembered now
she is remembered at abby Frenchne
, al d FrenchwOmen as an agreeable hostes
and an accomplished woman. Nine. Now
t koff, the O. X. (Olga kireeG Of ''Russi
and England" has also dabbed little /
, journalism; and when London correspol
dent of the ''Russ," a Moscow newspaper
furnished her countrymen with some curiot
q notes on the ways and manners and habit
of thought religious and political, Of he
hosts. Her career in London, her conquest
. amongst the most perfect and astute state,
e man of our time, and her bold and not III
Il successful attempt to make Russian han'
:. maid of English High Churchism are too we
% known to require notice here. She has bee
b exceedingly useful to her friends in Russi
II and may live .r be more useful yet. The.
= is plenty Of credulity and vanity in EnglaI
. to work upon.
A YOnnd Lady, La yer s Re,ort