New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-27
Is COUNT DE WITTE HERE?
RuSSid's Foremost Statesman Sad
To BE Visiting america IncOgnito.

Il - DC tottthg dUttfCu lHCOs, ''"'O'
Is Count de White. until lately the aIi-powerfui
Russian Minister of Finance and at present the
President of the Council Of Ministers. now in this
country? hear that he arrived here Incognto with
his daughter last week. and the rumors which
reached me the subject have been In a measure
confirmed by letters Just to hand from England.
which describe the Muscovite statesman as having
spent ten days fortnight in London In the
strictest incognito his presence and that Of his
daughter being only known to very few friends
NJ. de Wtte who is perhaps the most interesting
figure in Russian public life. and who Is destined
to play in the future an more important
role IN the AIuscovite Empire than In the past,
has always been much attracted toward America.
and has long cherished the desire to visit the United
States, realizing the predominating part which this
nation is bound in the inevitable course Of events
to play the economic and political affairs OF the
world.
While Minister OF Finance he or several >ecca-
sions sounded the American money market with
regard 10 financial transactions with the Russian
government. and is known 20 have ascribed their
failure materalize 20 the neglect Of his agents
10 observe the letter his Instructions He wishes
to see things in America. and 70 learn the condi-
tons that prevail here himself with view TO their
future use. and II may be Of interest to add that
he shares OF the preiGdices of so many other
Russian statesmen and dignitaries against the
Hebrew race the Countess de Witte being mem
Der ot that race.
His story has been frequently related that 1t
Is unnecessary 10 say more than that ne Is III
every sense Of the word self made man. having
begun life a ticket seller and subsequently,
train dispatcher at small railroad station in the
south Of Russia. and that he is Of all Russian
statesmen the most strongly mbued with pro
gresS!ve ideas and with the conviction that mas
much foreign capital Is indispensable to the de-
veIopment Of the colossal latent riches OF Russia.
il is imperative on economic as well as political
grounds to conciiiate the foreign powers and also
public opinion abroad by careful ard enlightened
q only Of he
but likewise of the domestic affairs Of me empire
Sir William Bruce is not imbued with aEy senti-
ments Of false pride for this holder % OF the
most ancient baronetcles of the United Kingdom
and chief of family which furnished the Bruce
line Of kings to Scotland advertses over his own
and title in The London Morning Post" for
paying guests; that IS say. for boarders des
tined relieve him and his elderly maiden
daughters Of some Of the expenses in connection
with their house at Ascot Sir William. who is
man OF over seventy and who was formerly cap
tain in the army. has two country seats in Scot
lard. which, however he rents. He was born in
Bombay. He has a son, who is married 70 the
daughter Of General SeIby. and among the most
DISTINGUISHED members of his family in modern
times has been James Bruce the African traveller.
The fortunes of the Bruces are. may be gath
cred from Sir Williams advertisement in The
Morning Post at a rather low ebb, and I am
afraid that there is little prospect OF their i'm
proveuenc. For the family motto is .'Fuimus.'
which must be translated as We have BEEN and
the have beens' are generally people who have
had their day and who are on the downward track
Relations between the courts OF Brussels and
St. Janes's becoming very strained indeed, the
result IT may be assumed. of Englands attitude IN
connection with the Congo Free State controversy
The other day when Queen Alexandra passed
through Belgium without stopping. her way
from Copenhagen to England via Calais, all her
baggage. consisting Of some Twenty-Five trunks.
and occupying separate car, was stopped at the
Belgian frontier and subjected to an examination
BY the Belgian custom house officials.
This can only be looked upon in the light Of a
eratuitous piece of impertinenCs for in the frs
place the Belgian custom house officials have no
business to touch any baggage which Is booked
through from GERMANY or any other foreign
country 70 Calais and which, therefore. goes
through Belgium in bond and. secondly even were
Queen Alexandra TO have broken her journey in
Belgium the fact Of her being not merely the mem
Der Of a reigning family. but the Queen Of one Of
the principal empires Of the world. should have
been sufficient spare her this ndignity, for the
baggage Of royalty is never examined at custom
houses hear that for once the usually
gentle and placid cOnsort Of King Edward
lost her temper and gave way to the keenest indis
nation. and has caused very strongly worded
complaint TO be made through the British Foreign
Office to the Belgian government
The English Foreign Office is likewise calling the
Belgian government to account for the treatment
Of its consul in the Congo Free State. The consul
a Mr. Easement has by orders Of his government.
been making an extensive Of inspection in the
upper Congo and it is presumabIJ because the
evidence that he had collected is already known to
confirm in the most ample manner the charges Of
i'll treatment Of natives and Of general maladminis-
+ra+ion that the Belgian commissioner governor
o. the equator district of the Congo Free State.
after a most stormy interview with the British
consul confscated his baggage, which presumably
contains the proofs in question