The present Czar, unlike his father, loses no opportunity of
showing that he considers himself the ally, or at all events the patron, of the French Government. Within two days of the speech of M. Hanotaux, in which the French Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke repeatedly of the French " alliance " with Russia, it was announced that the most distinguished of Russian Orders—that of St. Andrew—would be bestowed on M. Faure. Accordingly, on Monday last, the Russian Ambassador, Baron Mohrenheim, waited in full military state on the President, invested him with the collar of the Order, and requested him to recognise in it a new proof of the sentiments with which "my august master" is invariably actuated towards France. " I consider myself," added the Ambassador, "happy to certify, on this memorable occasion, to the continuity of the relations so happily established between the tiv9 countries," On the same day, June 17th,
the French and Russian squadrons met off Kiel Harbour,. and agreed to enter it together, the Russian Admiral, with suave politeness, conferring on the Frenchman, Admiral Menard, the command of both. Courtesies of this kind. when ordered by the Czar, are full of meaning, and the world is not surprised to hear that the guarantee for the Chinese- loan was given in St. Petersburg in presence of the French Ambassador, or that French policy is to be supported "throughout Africa" by the Russian Court. Now Egypt is geographically " in Africa."
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