The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-14
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ter and cht.f dignitnry of the court
of the ouirinal for that of ambassa-
dor at Berlin 1t Is not because no has
en'o oy b tao Kns and I
. but because ne is regarded. both by
the Italian government and By that of
the kaiscr. as the one man of all 9TH
crs needed to improve the relations be-
tween the allies. That these relations
have been strained almost to the break
ms point. and that the friendship of
| the two nations. and even between ths
two courts. have become go cold, as t.
cause people to look upon the alliance
AS merely nominal. is an acknowledged
| fact. while Italy has be.n treated in
ton at Berlin. In court, official and
military circles. which has been Bit
terly resented throughout the donlin-
ions of King Victor Emmanuel
The Marquis San Giul!ano, Minister
OF Foreign Affairs at Rome. has, like
his sovereign, come to the conclusion
that good deal of this sighting DE-
havior towards Italy. at Berlin. is at
tributable to the ineficiency OF their
ambassador in Germany, Signor Pansa,
and to his failure to create a good
impression, TO seours for himself, or
for his country, the necessary respect.
This does not astonish those who are
familiar with his career. When am
bassador at ConstantinopIe he was
largely responsible for the loss OF
prestige of italy in Turkey. condi-
tion OF affairs which has contributed In
no small measure to the war now in
progress, for Italy did not lay hands
upon Tripoli until things had been made
absolutely. intolerabie for her IN Tur-
key. especially At Constantlnople. Pan
sa was transferred to London. But he
did not meet with the approval of
Edward VII, and. before many months
We're past he was transferred to an
OF King Edward the other post being
TO Berlin, where he never, however,
succeeded in creating any kind of an
impression.
Now Mattioli Pasqualni is a very.
different kind of man. lie was for
many years first secretary OF the rtal-
ian embassy in Berlin, repeatedly act
Ing as charge d'affaires during the abb
sence OF his chief. old Count Lama.
From there he was transferred TO the
delicate post of consul-general at Bud
apost, a mission which, In spite OF its
alton, il virtually that of di-
plomatic envoy to tn. Magyar peo-
pie AND government Thence he was
sent as minister plenipotentiary to
Chill and after q brief stay at Santi-
ago was recalled 10 Rome as the one
man OF all others qualified TO solve the
grave difficulties which had arisen in
connection With the stringent Gcrma n
state insurance laws in their applica-
ton to Italian labor in Germany. They
were problems which, owing to the
lack OF elasticity and narrow minded
nsss OF Teuton bureaucracy, envcuomed
to serious degree the relations be-
tween the two countries. for there arc
many tens of thousands of italian la
oorers employed on works OF one kind
and another in Germany.
Mattiol Pasqualini, however. by
means OF diplomacy. tact, common
sense and firmncss, managed to smooth
away all the difficulties so successful
", and withheld so quietly, as to win
for himself the utmost Sood will, not
only on the part of .his own govern
ment. but also at Berlin. King Vic
tor Emmanuel was so much Impressed
THAI he entrusted him thercupon with
the mana Eement OF his entire court:
position that requires the utmost
skill. cleverEess In handling delicate
and difficult problems, and suavity
mingled with decision OF character, his
being the fret instance OF a conlmoner
being intrusted with snch an Office.
1t is said that the Kaiser himself has
now pressed for his transfer 10 Ber-
lin as ambassador. realizing the naces-
sity of restoring the old thine good
will between Germany and Italy, and.
above all, the Importance OF taking
advantage of the i'll will which has
lately arisen between France and It
ally, in connection with the latter 5
stoppagn of French ships In the Red
sea and the Mediterranean TO search
for contraband of war
Emperor Nicholas is jus, now in bad
odor with students of history. for it
has recently become known that short
ly before the death of Bilbassof. tine
Car caused him to consign to the
iiames the greater portion of his mon
umental work on Catherine the GrAat,
as we'll as all Of his notes In conncc-
ton Herewith. Nicholas had given the
historian free access to all sorts OF
archives, both of the Department OF
Foreign Affairs and of the imperial
house, and the manuscript for the
work, to which Bilbassof had devoted
number of years, was sufficient to
constitute at least ten fat volumes.
Ultima ely. the Emperor cam, TO the
printed privately as a matter of rec
ord for the archives of the imperial
family, would be SO harmful to the
dynasty, in view of the danger that
public. that he induced tho historian
TO destroy almost the whole OF his
magnum opus. 1t is said that Nicholas
was actually presenct at the burning.
replying on no one else to see that IL
was actually destroyed He Is known
TO hava richly rewarded BilbassoT, as
the latter left far larger fortune than
that with which he was credited. But
in his death not long afterwards.
That Nicholas, from II political point
of view, was wholly justified In this
course, is beyond all question. for
Catherine he Great. although one of
the most notable figures in Musco-
vite history. and who contributed so
largely, not alone to the grandeur of
the empire. but also to tn. progress
and enlightenment of the people, by at
tracing to her court the most eminent
foreign scientists. literateurs, poets,
! artists and philosophers, of thc eigh-
teenth century, was extremely disso-
lutc; had, III fact, no morals at all.
This, taken in conjunction with tho
nature OF her marriage to Fcter ILL.,,
has always left very grave doubts as
to the paternity of her son and sue
ccssor, Emperor Paul, many of her
| contemnerarics ascriblnS 1t to her IA
vorite Soltikoff.
1t Is believed that In his efforts TO
give an historically exact portrayal OF
Catherine, and in his endeavor TO show
that tn: immoralitics which were in
Keeping with the spirit of the age, and
, almost the only blot on her otherwise
SO glorious reign. was obliged to en-