The Russian Government has at last published in the official
journal its final view of the Catacazy affair, and a very singular one it is. Prince Gortschakoff holds that rapprochement between England and America is impossible, and therefore sent no in- structions to prevent it ; but still he declares M. Catacazy's dis- missal to have its origin in a mere personal squabble, blames Mr. Fish severely for publishing his despatch, and will not for a time fill up the Russian Embassy at Washington. Mr. Curtin, too, the American Minister at St. Petersburg, seems to have received a hint that he wanted sick leave to Nice to recruit his health. The truth is, we imagine, that M. Catacazy did receive orders to do all he could to impede the Washington Treaty,—Prince Gortschakoff not •knowing either Caleb Cushing's 'cuteness or Lord Ripon's good-nature ;—that M. Catacazy carried out his orders as he would have done at Constan- tinople, that is by intrigue ; that Mr. Fish ()aught him napping and
exposed him, and that Prince Gortschakoff, in a pet, says he will not play any longer. If the United States were in Europe all that would be important, but as it is, it is only interesting.
Previous page
