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secretaries and attaches； the very best of their kind；well
educated to begin with； thoroughly trained afterward；serving as
antennae for Great Britain in Russian society； and as the first
secretary of his embassy he had no less a personage than Henry
Howard； now Sir Henry Howard； minister at The Hague； one of the
brightest； best…trained； and most experienced diplomatists in
Europe。 The American representative was at that time provided
with only one secretary of legation； and he； though engaging and
brilliant； a casual appointment who remained in the country only
a few months。 I had； indeed； secured a handsome and comfortable
apartment； and entertained at dinner and otherwise the leading
members of the Russian ministry and of the diplomatic corps； at a
cost of more than double my salary； but the influence thus
exercised was； of course； as nothing compared to that exercised
by a diplomatist like Sir Robert Morier； who had every sort of
resource at his command； who had been for perhaps forty years
steadily in the service of his country； and had learned by long
experience to know the men with whom he had to deal and the ways
of getting at them。 His power in St。 Petersburg was felt in a
multitude of ways： all officials at the Russian Foreign Office；
from the highest to the lowest； naturally desired to be on good
terms with him。 They knew that his influence had become very
great and that it was best to have his friendship； they loved
especially to be invited to his dinners； and their families loved
to be invited to his balls。 He was a POWER。 The question above
referred to； of such importance to the United States； was not
decided by argument； but simply by the weight of social and other
influence； which counts so enormously in matters of this kind at
all European capitals； and especially in Russia。 This condition
of things has since been modified by the change of the legation
into an embassy； but； as no house has been provided； the old
difficulty remains。 The United States has not the least chance of
success； and under her present shabby system never will have； in
closely contested cases； with any of the great powers of the
earth。 They provide fitly for their representatives； the United
States does not。 The representatives of other powers； being thus
provided for； are glad to remain at their posts and to devote
themselves to getting a thorough mastery of everything connected
with diplomatic business； American representatives； obliged； as a
rule； to take up with uncomfortable quarters； finding their
position not what it ought to be as compared with that of the
representatives of other great powers； and obliged to expend much
more than their salaries； are generally glad to resign after a
brief term。 Especially has this been the case in St。 Petersburg。
The terms of our representatives there have generally been very
short。 A few have stayed three or four years； but most have
stayed much shorter terms。 In one case a representative of the
United States remained only three or four months； and in another
only six weeks。 So marked was this tendency that the Emperor once
referred to it in a conversation with one of our representatives；
saying that he hoped that this American diplomatist would remain
longer than his predecessors had generally done。
The action of the Russian authorities in the Behring Sea
question； which is directly traceable to the superior policy of
Great Britain in maintaining a preponderating diplomatic；
political； and social influence at the Russian capital； cost our
government a sum which would have bought suitable houses in
several capitals； and would have given to each American
representative a proper staff of assistants。 I have presented
this matter with reluctance； though I feel not the slightest
responsibility for my part in it。 I do not think that any
right…minded man can blame me for it； any more than； in the
recent South African War； he could have blamed Lord Roberts； the
British general； if the latter had been sent to the Transvaal
with insufficient means； inadequate equipment； and an army far
inferior in numbers to that of his enemy。
I am not at all in this matter 〃a man with a grievance〃； for I
knew what American representatives had to expect； and was not
disappointed。 My feeling is simply that of an American citizen
whose official life is past； and who can look back
dispassionately and tell the truth plainly。
This case is presented simply in the hope that it will do
something to arouse thinking men in public life； and especially
in the Congress of the United States； to provide at least a
suitable house or apartment for the American representative in
each of the more important capitals of the world； as all other
great powers and many of the lesser nations have done。 If I can
aid in bringing about this result； I care nothing for any
personal criticism which may be brought upon me。
CHAPTER XXXIV
INTERCOURSE WITH RUSSIAN STATESMEN1892…1894
To return to Sir Robert Morier。 There had been some friction
between his family and that of one of my predecessors； and this
had for some time almost ended social intercourse between his
embassy and our legation； but on my arrival I ignored this； and
we established very satisfactory personal relations。 He had held
important positions in various parts of Europe； and had been
closely associated with many of the most distinguished men of his
own and other countries。 Reading Grant Duff's 〃Memoirs；〃 I find
that Morier's bosom friend； of all men in the world； was Jowett；
the late head of Oriel College at Oxford。 But Sir Robert was at
the close of his career； his triumph in the Behring Sea matter
was his last。 I met him shortly afterward at his last visit to
the Winter Palace： with great effort he mounted the staircase；
took his position at the head of the diplomatic circle； and；
immediately after his conversation with the Emperor； excused
himself and went home。 This was the last time I ever saw him； he
returned soon afterward to England and died。 His successor； Sir
Frank Lascelles； more recently my colleague at Berlin； is a very
different character。 His manner is winning； his experience large
and interesting； his first post having been at Paris during the
Commune； and his latest at Teheran。 Our relations became； and
have ever since remained； all that I could desire。 He； too； in
every post； is provided with all that is necessary for
accomplishing the purposes of Great Britain； and will doubtless
win great success for his country； though not in exactly the same
way as his predecessor。
The French ambassador was the Comte de Montebello； evidently a
man of ability； but with perhaps less of the engaging qualities
than one generally expects in a French diplomatic representative。
The Turkish ambassador； Husny Pasha； like most Turkish
representatives whom I have met； had learned to make himself very
agreeable； but his position was rather trying： he had fought in
the Russo…Turkish War and had seen his country saved from the
most abject humiliation； if not destruction； only at the last
moment； by the Berlin Conference。 His main vexation in St。
Petersburg arose from the religious feeling of the Emperor。 Every
great official ceremony in Russia is prefaced； as a rule； by a
church service； hence Husny was excluded； since he felt bound to
wear the fez； and this the Emperor would not tolerate； though
there was really no more harm in his wearing this simple
head…gear in church than in a woman wearing her bonnet or a
soldier wearing his helmet。
Interesting； too； was the Italian ambassador； Marochetti； son of
the eminent sculptor； some of whose artistic ability he had
inherited。 He was fond of exercising this talent； but it was
generally understood that his recall was finally due to the fact
that his diplomatic work had suffered in consequence。
The Austrian ambassador； Count Wolkenstein； was； in many things；
the most trustworthy of counselors； more than once； under trying
circumstances； I found his advice precious； for he knew；
apparently； in every court of Europe； the right man to approach；
and the right way to approach him； on every conceivable subject。
Of the ministers plenipotentiary the Dutch representative； Van
Stoetwegen； was the best counselor I found。 He was shrewd； keen；
and kindly