The times., 1898-08-19
COUNT CAss|N| TO LONDON
Russian Ambas sador's Transfer
Said to Be Probable.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT
SIfs Presence at the Court of st.
James Might Avert N Possible
Rupture between England and
the Car Over the Problem of the
Far East.

Count de Cassini the new Russian am
bassador who was recently transferred to
Washington from the Chinese capital.
may shortly be ordered to London to sue
ceed NJ. de Staal, the Cars present rep
resentative at the Court of St. James.
Information to this effect reached here
last night by cable from London and st.
Petersburg. There is much significance
in the possible change. Count de Cassini
had six years of diplomatic experience at
Pekin and is we'll versed in Eastern poll
tics. 1t is not unlikely that the Russian
foreign office contemplates transferring
him to London to avert possible compli-
cation with England as a result of the
present crisis in China
The Russian ambassador is now at Mar
ragansett Pier, with his niece, Miss cas-
sini, and NJ. Zelenoy. the second secre-
tary of the embassy. Gen. Mertwago,
the military attache. is the only member
of the embassy now in the city.
He admitted that there was possibil-
ity of the Ambassador being transferred
to London. The count" said Gen. Mer-
twago, has long been desirous of having
European post, and as London is con-
sidered very high position, 1t is very
probable that he would welcome the
transfer, although he might not like TO
leave Washington SO soon. He has had
six years of diplomatic service in China,
and is well informed on matters in that
country. He would undoubtedly be an
excellent man for the London embassy
just now. l have no official information
on tine subject. and am not at liberty TO
say whether there is any truth In the
statement or not
The advent of Count de Cassini In
Washington last June was the subject of
much comment among members of the
diplomatic corps. He was known to be
an astute statesman. and his appearance
| in the American capital had far deeper
significance for Russia. perhaps than for
the United States. 1t has been currently
reported that he was sent here for the
purpose of blocking, If possible, the much
talked of Anglo-Saxon alliance. His rank
in Europe is among the three first diplo-
mats of the world, and when he came
here he was flushed with one of the great
est diplomatic triumphs of the century
the negotiations for Russia preferment in
| China.
The value of Cassini for official pleasure
in London is readily seen when his record
as the represent atfve of Russia is review
ed During all the bitter controversies
that marked the close of the China-Japan
war he was the representative of the
! Car at Pekin. 1t was he who placed
the sword OF Russia across the first draft
of the treaty of peace, and announced
that unless the Japanese should evacuate
the island it would be necessary for soma
/ other power to lift the sword of the
| Car from the protocols under consdera-
/ tion. His boldness triumphed
Subsequently he negotiated all the DELI
cate agreements between the Gar and
the Emperor of China. through which the
recent Russian concessions in the far
east were secured. He entertained Ii
Hung Chang al st. Petersburg during the
time OF his visit there. and it is believed
that he was instrumental in having the
aged Oriental sign a secret treaty with
Russia at that time