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make this zone as small as possible。 They had even contended for
a zone of only ten miles radius。 But just at the nick of time Sir
Robert Morier intervened at St。 Petersburg。 No one but himself
and the temporary authorities of the Russian Foreign Office had；
or could have had； any knowledge of his manoeuver。 By the means
which his government gave him power to exercise； he in some way
secured privately； from the underlings above referred to as in
temporary charge of the Foreign Office； an agreement with Great
Britain which practically recognized a closed zone of only thirty
miles radius about the Russian islands。 This fact was telegraphed
just at the proper moment to the British representatives before
the tribunal； and； as one of the judges afterward told me； it
came into the case like a bomb。 It came so late that any adequate
explanation of Russia's course was impossible； and its
introduction at that time was strenuously objected to by our
counsel； but the British lawyers thus got the fact fully before
the tribunal； and the tribunal naturally felt that in granting us
a sixty…mile radiusdouble that which Russia had asked of Great
Britain for a similar purposeit was making a generous
provision。 The conditions were practically the same at the
American and Russian seal islands； yet the Russian officials in
charge of the matter seemed entirely regardless of this fact；
and； indeed； of Russian interests。 After secret negotiation with
Sir Robert； without the slightest hint to the American minister
of their intended sacrifice of their 〃identical interest with the
United States；〃 they allowed this treachery to be sprung upon us。
The sixty…mile limit was established by the tribunal； and it has
proved utterly delusive。 The result of this decision of the
tribunal was that this great industry of ours was undermined； if
not utterly destroyed； and that the United States were also
mulcted to the amount of several hundred thousand dollars；
besides the very great expense attending the presentation of her
case to the tribunal。
I now come back to the main point which has caused me to bring up
this matter in these reminiscences。 How was it that Great Britain
obtained this victory？ To what was it due？ The answer is simple：
it was due to the fact that the whole matter at St。 Petersburg
was sure to be decided； not by argument； but by 〃influence。〃 Sir
Robert Morier had what in the Tammany vernacular is called a
〃pull。〃 His government had given him； as its representative； all
the means necessary to have his way in this and all other
questions like it； whereas the American Government had never
given its representative any such means or opportunities。 The
British representative was an AMBASSADOR； and had a spacious；
suitable； and well…furnished house in which he could entertain
fitly and largely； and to which the highest Russian officials
thought it an honor to be invited。 The American representatives
were simply MINISTERS； from time immemorial had never had such a
house； had generally no adequate place for entertaining； had to
live in apartments such as they might happen to find vacant in
various parts of the townsometimes in very poor quarters；
sometimes in better； were obliged to furnish them at their own
expense； had； therefore； never been able to obtain a tithe of
that social influence； so powerful in Russia； which was exercised
by the British Embassy。
More than this； the British ambassador had adequate means
furnished him for exercising political influence。 The American
representatives had not； they had been stinted in every way。 The
British ambassador had a large staff of thoroughly trained
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 m