, 1894-05-19
(From the Daily Telegraph

Considerable light is thrown on the char.
acter Of Russia's relations with France through
some remarks iust made on he subject by q
diplomatist belonging to one of the Cars
Embassies, who is spending a few days IN
Paris. The gentleman in question told one
of his Interlocutors that his fellow country
men were a prey to true feminine jealousy. Not
content with Russia's smiles, they wanted
her to make faces at Germany. This was ask
ing too much. The Gear desired peace, which
meant being on good terms with everyone.
They would not buy frances friendship With
German luminosity aud Utce versa. Nothing
could be more natural than that Russia should
conclude commercial treaties in the interest
of her agriculturais,s and manufacturers
with her immediate neighbours, and these
would rendor her relations with Germany
and Austria more cordial. France was pro
tectionlst just now, aud was therefore oppos-
ed to treaties Of commerce.. This was her
affair, but she could not impose her system
on other nations, and must be repaired to take
the political consequences. TO please France
Russia would never quarrel with Germany.
The d%iplomatist went on to explain that the
Anarchist OutrageS and the progress achieved
by Socialism in France had produced an un-
favourable impression in Russia, where Nihi-
lism has been almost stamped out owing to the
Cars implaeable severity. 1t was true that
the French Government did what it could; but
juries were not always to be relied ON, and
Judges permitted the discussion of ssubversive
theories in the law courts. Then, could the
discretion of French statesmen always be de-
pended on? In Russia an ex. Minister who
disclosed state secrets would soon be on his
way to Siberia, while in France those who
were removed from the altar hoped to return
- - lv ,unCo-;np H. k,Inrnoo1o TIn11r
such conditions, how can Russian diplomatists
speak frankly and conclude engagements ?
"You will never know what You Ministerial
instability and the Insecurity Of the relations
resulting therefrom have cost YOU explain
ed this authority. In illustration of this the
Russian diplomatist explained that fully
twenty years ago there were men who tolled
hard to bring about an entente between the
countries. Among them was NJ. Th6ophile
+, Franceschi, the editor Of the Nord, who died
two years ago. He was in direct correspond
ence with the Emperor Alexander H., who
shortly before his assassination, wrote him q
letter in which ,alluding to the risk of entering
into negotiations with France-his Majesty
remarked that a Minister for Foreign Affairs
who had returned to private life would throw,
rithout tue smallest scruple, all the work Of
his predecessors into newspaper controversies
if he thought that such a course would
bring him some advantage or would DAM
age his rivals. Under such conditions
it would be more than a delicate task to make
overtures, or even to reply to those which
might be made, added the late Gear. Point.
ing the neral, the Russian diplomatist OBJ
served that Alexander II. knew the French
better than they know themselves, and DIS
creetly insinuated that certain occurrences of
recent date had fully confirmed the objec-
tons raised In the letter Just cited.