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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； but his tongue was sharpso much so that it finally
brought about his recall。 He made a remark one day which
especially impressed me。 I had said to him； 〃I have just sent a
despatch to my government declaring my skepticism as to the
probability of any war in Europe for a considerable time to come。
When I arrived in Berlin eleven years ago all the knowing people
said that a general European war must break out within a few
months： in the spring they said it must come in the autumn； and
in the autumn they said it must come in the spring。 All these
years have passed and there is still no sign of war。 We hear the
same prophecies daily； but I learned long since not to believe in
them。 War may come； but it seems to me more and more unlikely。〃
He answered； 〃I think you are right。 I advise my own government
in the same sense。 The fact is that war in these days is not what
it once was； it is infinitely more dangerous from every point of
view； and it becomes more and more so every day。 Formerly a
crowned head； when he thought himself aggrieved； or felt that he
would enjoy a campaign； plunged into war gaily。 If he succeeded；
all was well； if not； he hauled off to repair damages；very much
as a pugilist would do after receiving a black eye in a fist
fight；and in a short time the losses were repaired and all went
on as before。 In these days the case is different： it is no
longer a simple contest in the open； with the possibility of a
black eye or； at most； of a severe bruise； it has become a matter
of life and death to whole nations。 Instead of being like a fist
fight； it is like a combat between a lot of champions armed with
poisoned daggers； and in a dark room； if once the struggle
begins； no one knows how many will be drawn into it or who will
be alive at the end of it； the probabilities are that all will be
injured terribly and several fatally。 War in these days means the
cropping up of a multitude of questions dangerous not only to
statesmen but to monarchs； and even to society itself。 Monarchs
and statesmen know this well； and； no matter how truculent they
may at times appear； they really dread war above all things。〃
One of my colleagues at St。 Petersburg was interesting in a very
different way from any of the others。 This was Pasitch； the
Servian minister。 He was a man of fine presence and； judging from
his conversation； of acute mind。 He had some years before been
sentenced to death for treason； but since that had been prime
minister。 Later he was again put on trial for his life at
Belgrade； charged with being a partner in the conspiracy which
resulted in the second attempt against the life of King Milan。
His speech before his judges； recently published； was an effort
worthy of a statesman； and carried the conviction to my mind that
he was not guilt