The Times published on Saturday a letter from its corre-
spondent in Paris confirming even in details the explanation we suggested on Saturday last of the fall of M. Berthelot. That Minister fell because the Russian Government refused to be dragged at his heels. The Russian Ambassador, it seems, complained formally to the French Premier that M. Berthelot had announced a policy in Egypt which Russia was expected to support without previously consulting St. Peters- burg. The communication was courteously made, and accom- panied by protestations that the Czar would not for the world interfere in the internal affairs of France, but its meaning was so serious that the Ambassador subsequently produced evidence that it was entirely endorsed by his Government in St. Petersburg. A Cabinet Council was then called, and M. Berthelot was informed of the facts and told that he must go, which he did, retiring, it is said, to his own house without even calling for the last time at the Foreign Office. He is clearly very angry, but will say nothing for the sake of the Affiance. We have given elsewhere some reasons for thinking that the Rusaian Embassy sympathises with the Moderates, and would not be sorry to see the " Socialist " M. Bourgeois disappear as well as M. Berthelot.
