The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-04
KLEPToMAN1A AND DIPLOMACY.
Row a Russian Minister Worked an
English Foreign Secretary.

Row a Russian Minister Worked an
English Foreign Secretary.
A Washington letter 20 the Baltimore
american says: Speaking about the Rus
sian treaty and the principles involved in
the treaty, am reminded Of a good story
which was recently told me by a native con-
nected with the Russian legation. 1t illus
tTates the remarkable detective qualities of
the officers Of the Russian army and navy,
and shows how an important movement in
war strategy was made by the use of detect
i've ability on a social occasion.
In 1916, during the Russian Turkish war,
the sympathies of the English government
were on the part of the enemies of Russia.
At that time there were in England two
rival chiefs-namely: the famous Disraeli
lord Beconsfield) and the Grand Old Man,
Mr.. Gladstone. The former was in power,
and the latter striving to Gust him out of
power. Lord Beaconsfield sounded the
Keynote throughout Great Britain that
through the successes Of the Russian arms
in the Balkans the British interests were in
danger, while ON the other hand the Grand
Old Man made speeches that "the Turks
must go, bag and baggage, out of Eu-
rope
Each and every success of the Russian
arms in Turkey so alarmed the Tory gov
eminent that it was resolved at last in a
cabinet meeting to aid the Turkish govern
nent IN arresting the victorious Russians
from marching on Constantinople, and ne
gotlatlons were opened with the Turkish
government for that purpose. This came to
the ears OF the famous Count Skovualotf,
the then Russian Ambassador to the Court
of st. James, who was determined, in order
to find out more fully Of the nefarious de-
signs OF England on Russia. to give a quiet
dinner party in honor of the English For
elgn secretary, Lord -.
Invitations were accordingly sent out and
Lord - accepted the same Here fol-
lowed the strange story. Count Skouvlaoff,
the Russian Ambassador, set out table at
that dinner party in a superb manner. the
plates and other accessories of the costliest
value. Lord -. being the guest of honor
sat at the right of the Russian Ambassador.
During the repast the secretary, who is
well known as a kleptomaniac, helped him
self to the costliest spoons, salt cellars, etc.
This was observed by the steward, who,
with amazement, informed the Russian
Ambassador. He said that the foreign min
lister, his guest, had stolen some of the best
ware from the table.
Hold on !" said Count Skouvaloff. Don't
say anything. Keep quiet, for we have
bagged the enemy"
The dinner was over finally, and the party
retired to an adjoining room for the pur-
pose Of smoking. Count Skouvalof i'm
CURED of Lord - of the truth of the report
that the English government was going to
send a fleet to the Bosphorus for the purpose
OF arresting the forward movements of the
victorious Russian army in the Balkans and
aiding the Turk. Naturally, the English
foreign secretary had little to say on the
subject.
On the departure of Lord - the Rus
sian Ambassador escorted him to his car
riage. While opening the door of the car
rlsge the Russian Ambassador was APP
preached by the steward, who whispered
something into the formers ear. The am
basSador Immediately turned around to
Lord - and said:
my Lord, something dreadful has hap
pened, so the steward informs me- and your
Lordship's attention will be called for few
minutes to the anteroom." Lord - ac-
guessed, and upon his arrival there was
confronted by the steward and charged di-
rectly with the theft of small gold spoons
and salt cellars studded with diamonds.
Nv hatw exclaimed Lord - to the stew
ard; how dare you insinuate this against
my persona
In reply the steward said:
81 have seen you put the gold spoons in
your trousers pocket, and the salt cellars in
your dresscoat pocket. [ am responsible
for those costly plates; hence | watched you
closely. Please hand them out of your
pocket"
''Villainn exclaimed Lord -: 'ssearch
me. and your falsehood will be branded,
and for that insult you will pay dearly"
II dare not,n replied the steward "put
my hands on your excellency's person; but,
pray, do it yourself"
II will y Said Lord -. and nurtino hic
hands into his pocket, so unconscious was
he of his kleptomaniac propensties that he
drew forth the gold spoons and salt cellars.
In a complacent manner he handed them
to the steward as if nothing had hap
pened.
"Holdr said Count Skouvaloff; ''it proves
to me that your excellency abused my hos
outrage on society, as well as against my
person. have to send for the police and
have your LordshiD arrested"
me" replied Lord -, ''do not disgrace
me and my official positionl"
"Well," said the count, calculatingly, sit
can only be done if your Lordship will
her ma iesty the queen that you, as a for
eign minister who has the greatest voice in
the cabinet, will oppose the sending of the
hamper Russia
TO this Lord - assented; and, true to
his promise, he opposed the proposition of
sending the fleet to the Bosphorus, and, on
that account, he had to resign his Office, and
Lord Salisbury, the present Premier of Eng
land. was put in mis- place.