The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-17
Succeeds Delcasse as French
Ambassador at St.
Petersburg.
Petersburg.
BY Ia MAnaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

BY la MARQUISE DE FoNTfsNOY.
r. n AURICB PALEOLOGUE. who
N succeeds Theophile Delcasse
MS Fronch Ambassador at ST.
petersburg, post which has been tho
grave of so many French diplomatic
regulations. is perhaps tho ablest and
certainly the most discreet OF tho
permanent officials OF tho Department
of Foreign Affairs on tho DUAL d'Orsay
at Paris.
IL was TO him that President Poln-
care. when Primo Minister. conflded
the difficult task of completely reor-
Eanizing tho Department Of FOREIGN
Affairs. with view to simplifying its
procedure. and to abolish the almost
incredible abuses that had crept in In
tho course OF years: abuses which were
Drought to light by certain very grave
financial scandals.
Paleologue performed his task with
great success. and deserves tho graft
tude OF all those who havo any busI-
ness with the French Ministry of For.
eign Affairs, for having done away
with an immense amount of needless
RED tapo. Moreover. no has succeeded
In putting stop TO the indiscretion
/ or the permanent officials of tho de-
partment. which had resulted in so
many leakages Of official secrets. EN-
parrassing alike to the French govern
ment and to foreign powers
silence indoors. silence out of doors.
messieurs. and bear In mind that IN
Ministry OF Foreign Affairs II Ia
only published treaties that should
NOT DO kert secret" These were the
orders which, with tho authority of
Premier Poincare he issued TO the de-
partment, intimatinE that any indis-
erection would be followed by immedi-
alto dismissal.
At no timo did Paleologue give go
great On evidence OF his tact and dis
erection, as when he represented the
Department of Foreign Affairs at the
second trial by court martial, at
Rennes. OF Major Drcytus. after the
Grave complications with Russia would
nave ensued had Paleologue made a
clean breast Of all he knew abou, tho
natte-. And yet he managed his evil
oence in such q manner as to satisfy
public opinion, which had been SO VIC.
lently aroused. both at homo and
abroad. He won tho respect and the
confidence of both the imposing parties,
and managed to convey the Impression
that neither he nor his department had
anything to conceal. while abstaining
from revealing anything of an en-
barraSSing nature
Unlike most OF tho permanent on
Gals OF the Ministry of Foreign Az
fairs. he has had a considerable amount
or diplomatic experience, having served
as secretary at TanEier and at Rome.
and having boon sent on special mis-
sions TO Germany. China, Cairo, Bull
garia ard MADRID.
Tho new ambassador Is a bachelor.
and. without having ever attempted
to assume any title. bears n name that
Is historic throughout tho East OF
Europe. especially In Russia. where
Muscovite aspirations to the possession
or Constantinople are based upon the
descent of the reigning house from
those Paleologues who reigned in an
Client times at Constantinople, as En-
perors of Byzantium
Count Frederick Won koenigsmarck.
who has arrived from Europe In New
york. to spend some time in tho United
states and Canada, Is Prussian can
tain OF cavalry on the reserve list
forty three years OF age, unmarried.
and head of the second of the three
lines OF the historic house OF Koenigs-
marck which has played so great n
role In tho annals of Central Europe
and also OF Great Britain.
Count Charles Koenigsmarck fig