New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-16
RUS STA IN AFRICA.
ADVENTURE AND INTRIGUE AT THE COURT
OF THE NEGUS.
St. Petersburg. July %.

ST. Petersburg, July ~.
oId-fasbioned diplomacy is now practlsed per.
hang nv Russia alone of oil the Powers o. EUROPE
that is the diplomacy that worked by secret
means intrigue, bribery, DECEIT, sometimes aSSiT
sination. Other nations have learned to zeal WIN
each other more by argument and by Prince
RsmarcI,'s rule of no ut des" But Russia is
!, century or so behind the rest of Europe in many
things and in nothing more notably than IL
dinlomacv. Let it not be imagined, however
for n moment, that these Anticipated ways and
means are Ineffective by the side of the modern
system. For proof of the contrary see the amaz-
ing successes of Russian statecraft in Central
Asia and in the Balkans. Disraeli was more
than match for it, because Disraei was himself
q medieval intriguer transplanted into modern
times But who else can cope with the Tartar
and the Cossack?
Perhaps the most surprising manifestation Oh
Russian Foreign Office activity is the latest. IL
is exhibited in tho last region one would expect
Russia to turn TO. What has the Arctic Pole 10
do with the burning tropics2 Yet it IS III the
very heart of Africa that Russian agents are now
most busy, and it is there that this great North
ern Power is likeliest TO give trouble next 10 l'S
rivals. The present African expedition Is hoV
the first. One was sent to Abyssinia a few years
ago, under the lead of the notorious AtchinoH
Hetman of the Free Cossacks. But it was not
fully recognized and supported by the Russian
Government. The Slavonic Society backed IL
earnestly, but the Foreign Office played FLY OF
it, True, various members Of the Imperial
family patronized Atchinoff The Grand Duke
Serge, Governor-General of Moscow, hailed HIM as
the founder of New-Muscovy in Africa" Isl
dore, the Metropolitan of ST. Petersburg, and all
the Holy Synod, blessed him. Curiously enough
toO Sin
one, NJ. Shestakoff, the Minister of Marine, was
much interested in it, and invested money in the
enterprise. Other hackers were NJ Pobiedonost-
zef NJ, Krivtsof, and all the prOpagandists OF
Pan-Slavism and the Holy Orthodox Church. But
they did in their individual capacities. The
Government a body would have nothing to
do with Atchinoff's schemes. And, as Is well
known, the expedition ended in failure. Atchlnon
reached AbysSinia ard requested an audience OF
the King That monarch asked him for his
credentials. If you come as an officer OF the
Negus Of Muscovy," he said, and have the proper
writings from him.. you are welcome to stand
near my throne. But if not, yoC would better
get out of my kingdom more quickly than you
entered it," Atchinotf had no credentials. lie
had not even a Russian officers uniform to wear.
So he got out.
The present expedition is far different in origin
and character and seems certain TO have better
fate. Its origin oates back to the days Of Cen
eral Komarofis raids in Afghanistan. In those
exciting times. when war with England was daily
looked for, a certain Lieutenant Mashkotf came
into notice, as "a dashing and fearless soldier and
a shrewd and willy intriguer Thenceforth he
was a marked man, marked for promotion and
imperial favor whenever opportunity might
arise Opportunity did presently arise brought
forward by himself Bahied for the time being
in AfghonistanN Russia looked around to sec where
else she could annoy her great foe English in
terestS in Egypt arrested attention. And Mash
kotf wrote a long letter TO the War Minister, sug-
costing Russian mission Ia AbySSinia. IL will
be possible" he said, to establish intimate re-
ations with that country; in time to fix a
Russian Protect0rate over it; and ultimately
TO make il Russian province. What could more
annoy and embarrass the British in Egypt?'
Wild as the project seemed, the Russian Govern
mcnt quickly took it up. Mashkofr was invited
70 st. Petersburg, and had numerous interviews
with the War Minister apd prominent officers Of
the army And presently he was authorized to
proceed to Abyssinia and survey the land.
This expedition consisted of only two men,
Mashkof and Montenegrn brgand named
Zlatytschanin. They were supplied with plenty
Of money from the Imperial treasury and goodly
supply of costly presents for the King and for the
various chiefs with whom they might come
in contact They set out quietly that
no one knew Of their going. They reached
Abyssna in safety, undctected. They
spent some time in Ankober. Antoto and other
towns They were received by King Menelek
with all the honors that could be afforded to the
Ambassadors of great and friendly power. On
this occasion they were Respondent in Russian uni
forms. and their credentials rot lacking; and
these circumstances led the Negus to tell them, in
ioval confidence, the whole story of Atchinohs
discontinue and fight. They had a long inter
view with the Negus. He complained to them
bitterly Of the aggressions of Italy. and they
Hmpathized with him, and limited at how much
more powerful Russia was than Italy To this the
Ncgus replied that he would he most grateful TO
the Gar for assistance against the Italians, and
authorized them to bear a verbal message to that
effect. as well as a written letter. Perhaps how
ever. their trump card was religion As all the
world knows the religion of Abyssinia is de-
graded mixture of Judaism, Christianity and Pa
ganism well seasoned with immortality. But these
orthodox communicates of the Holy Greek Church
unblushingly told the King that the religions oil
Russia and Abyssinia were identical, and that
therefore the two Powers should join hand.
against all such unbelievcrs Italians and Eng
lish This pleased Menelcl wonderfully. lie
insisted on their visiting the Altoona, and in oflic
ating at The services in the royal church, which
they did. And thus, having accomplished even
more than they had set ont to do the two adventur
,rs made their way back to Russia and reached hom
without soul outside the interested circle know
| ing a word about it.
| Mashkoff returned to ST. Petersburg in the fall
of $50, and made full reports of his observations
to the War Minister lie also had many inter
views with General VannolslIy. with VI. de Gcrs
NJ. PobiedonostseG, NJ Vishnegradsby, Admira
TchihatcheiT, and others. So much interested wer
they in what he had to tell. and so important die
his work seem 10 them, that presently the Emperor
himself asked to see the traveller. 1t is no
| likely that such thing ever occurred before in
the history Of the Imperial court as for the Czal