The consideration with which the Abyssinian Envoys have been received
at St. Petersburg deserves attention. Not only have the authorities, lay and clerical, shown them marked attention, but the Czar is said to have bestowed upon the -Emperor Menelek the Alexander Nevsky Order, set in 'brilliants, and the first-class of the Order of St. Anne, also in 'brilliants, upon Ras Maconnen, the Emperor's chief adviser. Other orders have been given to the Envoys, including an -Eikon to the Bishop. The Russians do not, of course, mean to protect Abyssinia ; but for all that, the Italians are very 'uneasy. They claim to stand in the position of protector to Abyssinia, but this the French deny, and support Menelek in -denying. The encouragement of the Abyssinian Envoys is therefore a piece of pro-French action. It is generally regarded as something on account for French aid in the Far East. No doubt the importance of the incident may easily be exaggerated. Still, it is not pleasant for Italy, who cannot expect the Triple Alliance to give her much help in Africa.
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