Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-08-07


TIE most popular azd q ths sane
tine Ne cleFesesE q TIE loFeiga En-
voys e WashinRfon h he Russian
Minister. aad Il musl be admitted
lhaa The Car gave i proof of the
immense importance which be a.
zaches 20 ne friandship 81 the uniied
csaies when be spp0intsd 50 de-
llngulshed 3 diplomaie as n De
s,fuye % represent bis interests IN
this country. A son of the cele-
bFalGd Ofiensalist and nafFonnmeE,
kreaerick von Struve, and brother 0f
the present chief astronomer 81 the
government. the Minister al Wash.
Ington's connection with that science
has been limited 10 the Stars Of Rus
sian and foreign orders which cover
his breast his career began ii the
marvei0ualy organized Asiafic De-
partment Of the Russian F0FeigR
Office. and won his spurs IS priaci-
pal secretary % The Governor General
u TurkesiGn, where, owing % his
uncsasing activity and widespread
influence, be soon became the bette
nuire Of the British Indian govern
ment.
Both e the Foreign Once At Cal.
eugta and Al the I8diAn 0fiee 10 Lon
don the mere mention Of 81 de
strives name causes an unpleasant
little sbiver, and the conversation Is
changed. All Of q sndden 70 the as
tonIshment Of everybody, be was re-
moved from the sphere of action
where be was doing such excellent
service and insrusted with the com
paratively unimportant japanese mis-
sion. Many Of his friends looked
upon the appointment as q kind OF
disgrace and much surprise was ex-
pressed a. bis accepting H. EstAb-
lishing himself IN the pleasant lega-
ton building At Toxic, he gave every
body the impression that be had
thrown diplomacy 70 the dogs, and
that his sole aim In life was 20 excel
AZ cr0Quet. Garden parties. dinners,
pienics and all kinds Of frivolities
were the order Of the day. As TO
his clever wife, she appeared 70 de-
vote the whole Of her attention to
the collection Of Japanese teapots.
The English Minister, Sir Henry
Parkes, who had been warned about
his colleague, was perfectly thrown
of his guard, and used 10 smile con-
temptu0usly when De StFuve's name
was mentioned. was In Japan az
the time, and one thing which used
always 10 strike me al the Russian
Legation was the special attention
and courtesy with which the Chiefs
Of Bureau of the japanese Foreign
Office we're treated by both the Min
ister and Nine. de Strive. The Brit
ISL Envoy considered himself far too
great man ever to notice the ex-
isteRce OF such uAimportant people
IS these Chiefs Of Bureau, and even
treated the japanese Ministers Of
State themselves as II they were
mere children. Suddenly one day q
telegram arrived from London adj
dressed 70 Sir Henry Parkes, stating
that Information had been received
from st PeterhuTg thai the Russian
government had succeeded In getting
the japanese TO exchange their hall
Of the Laghalien Island for the bar
rem Kurill Islands previously belong
ing 70 Russia. In order TO appreci-
ate the immense importance of this
exchange, the following facts must
be taken into consideration The is
land Of Saghalien until then had been
divided into two distinct parts, the
northern and absolutely barren and
useless portion belonging 10 Russia,
while the southern part. with its
magnificent coal fields, its vast min
eral wealth and extensive natural
harbors, belongedao Japan. The
only port which the Russians have
| on the Pacific coast is VladIvostock,
which Is frozen up and useless dur
Jog eight months Of the year.
Therefore. in the case OF q war with
England, and Of the strict observ.
ance of neutrality by Japan and
China, the Cars government would
have been unable TO maintain a fleet
In the Pacific Ocean owing to the
impossibility Of obtaining regular
supplies of either fuel, ammunition
| or provisions. BY the acquisition Of
the southern portion Of Seghalien
they have now remedied this want,
as the British colonies in Australia
and elsewhere will find TO their cost
In the event Of a war with Russia.
A vast number OF convicts have been
set to work In the coal fields. Harbor
works are being constructed and am-
munillon stored 10 the island. Con-
sidering the enormous trade of Great
Britain 10 the Pacific Il Is impossible
70 calculate the effects Of this little
piece OF diplomacy on the Fart Of M.
de Strive. Needless TO add that Sir
Henry PaFkes, who knew nothing
about the matter until cabled to him
from London, was severely censured
by the British Government for his
Uncomfortable neglect. The Japa-
nese Chief Of Bureau, through whom
the negotiations for the exchange
had been carried on, was shortly az
forwards appointed Envoy Of the Mi
kado TO St. Petersburg. His name is
Hanabusa.
d. de Strive, who, besides bis dip
lomatic rank, is also one Of the Cars
ChAmberlains and Privy Councillors,
has been powerfully assisted in all
his successes BY his extremely clever
wife. Nine. de Strive is not beauti-
full, and her dresses are simply out
Fageous In their cut and ugliness. but
- soon Is ever she begins 10 talk all
her homeliness aud eccentricity Of
toilet Is absolutely forgotten, and in
every saloon she viii always be the
most etOuree Of the ladies present,
while far more beautiful women will
be coldly neglected. A Princess
Galitzin By birth. she was before her
marriage q maid Of honor 70 the late
Empress. In intimate correspondence
with almost every statesman Of any
importance In Russia, she Is Of the
greatest assistance 20 her husband,
whose own elevernsss Is apt 70 be
forgotten ia the admiration which
his wiie's talents and stateeFaft call
forth.
Il - . s---------