The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-06
For Many Years Ono of Most
Powerful Figures in Euro
pean Politics.
ny LA MARaUIsE DE roNrENoY.

~ L all the delegation which is sail
Ing from Havrc Just a fortnight
~ hence to convey to the United
States Auguste Robins bronze, repre-
scnting France, which is TO be placed at
the foot of the monument OF Samuel
next June. the most distinguished. far
and away, will be Gabriel HanotauH,
for many years one OF tho most pow
crful figures in European politics, ow-
ing to his mastery direction OF the
Department of Foreign Affairs on the
Cuai d'Orsay, at Paris
He is celebrated from one end
OF Europe TO the other not alone
as i great statesmaa-when in office
his countrymcn endowed him with the
significant nickname OF 'Richclicu"-
but he Is also celebrated as the great
est OF living historians.
He is not n very impressive looking
man. In fact, appearances are some
what against him; and when he was
first appointed az secretary of en-
bassy at Constant!nopls he incurred
the i'll will of his ambassador, the late
Marquis dc Montcbcllo and especially
OF the Marquisc dc Montebello, through
mis- complete lack OF distinction of
manner and appca rance, and by his
STOPPING gait: the latter possibly dur.
to the fact that his parents, and all
four of his grandparents, were hard
working ti!lcrs of the SOIL. Private
advices were at the same time sent to
the ambassador and to the marquisc
warning them against HanotauX,
as a man OF whom 10 beware, as high
in tho favor of tho leading republicans
at Paris. and as liable TO quickly fer
ret out anything that might not be
strictly republican at the embassy.
The Marquise dc Montebello. being a
shopkcrpcr's daughter. was OF course
especially offended at the Idea of hav-
ing a man of such bourgeois birth,
name and appearance, as II member OF
her husbands staff.
Yet before Hanotaux has been there
for six weeks, he had managed to in
gratlatc himself with the ambassa-
dress to such an extent that She con-
suited him about everything, and to
win the confidence of his chief 10 so
great degree that the latter. when
he went away on his annual leave,
intrusted the whole conduct OF affairs
to him. in lieu OF the chief secretary.
Gambetta had a great idea OF Hano-
tnuX, and declared of him, EN- VOLTA
un hommc. The only thing against
him Is his irritablllty and somewhat
sour manner, queer defects in sue
cessful master of diplomacy, and
which are probably attributable to the
malady of the liver with which he
has been afflicted for many years.
In 1856 ne threw up his secretary
ship at Constant!nopic in order TO
stand for the Chamber of Deputies.
and was returned by a majority OF
1000 votes over the rival Republican
candidate for his native department.
that of the Ain. Three years later.
that is 10 say. in 1882 he became Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs in the second
of the DupUis administrations, and re-
manned in office, throughout many
changes of cabinet. until 1895 that is
to say. for n period of some ten or
twelve years II was to him more
than to any one else that was due the
successful negotiation of the Franco
Russian alliance, which has been the
keynote OF Frances foreign policy for
so many years. In fact, he was re-
gardcd untii the Fashoda episode.
for which his colleague, NJ. Dclcassc.
then Minister OF tine Colonies. was
primarily responsibility as the only
possible Minister of Foreign Affairs
as Frances nineteenth century Rich
elltu 1t was to this Fashoda i'm
ciden; that his retirement from office
was due. the blow coming doubly hard
since the dispatch OF Major Marchands
expedition across Africa to l3asloda
was undertaken III defiance Of Hano-
taux's protests, by his colleague the
Minister of the Colonies, NJ. Deicassc.
who was appointel to succeed him at
the Foreign Ofice.
Generally. when Frcncn cabinet
minister falls. specially after so long
term OF office as that OF IIanotaux.
nc is regarded as dead, from a po!iti-
al point of view. But nothing Of the
kind was the case with iIanotaux, and
lie was at once overwhelmed with tho
most lucrative offers, by the leading
publishers OF France, to undertake
historical works for them: works for,
which lie was most advanta geously
situated. not only by taste, ana cxper-
fence, but also by the fact that as a
former Minister of Foreign Affairs h
had access to all sorts OF official docu-
mcnts, at home and abroad, which were
not at the disposal OF tho ordinary
student.
Retaining his old nickname of Rich
oieu" he continues to enjoy the loft.
rest esteem of his countrymen, and
In foreign capitals, as the most .rudlts