RUSSIA & FRANCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 April 1908, Page 1

RUSSIA & FRANCE.

REMARKABLE INCIDENT. AN AMBASSADOR INSULTED. A St. Petersburg telegram in tho London "Daily Telegraph" of Feb- i ruary sth, says : — i Franco-Russian friendship has undoubtedly lost much of its pristine cori diality during the past two yeais, and active attempts are being made to break up the Dual Alliance. Among zealous partisans of a Russo-German al liance is Prince Meschersky, editor of the journal "Citizen." Last Thursday he published a violent attack on the French Ambassador, whom he termed "Citizen Bompard," and described as an intimate friend of the domestic en'e mies of the Russian Government, and as an inter-meddler in the internal affairs of Russia. The article further announced M. Bompard's recall with joy, alluded to M. Clemenceau as an enemy of the Russian Empire, and at firmed that M. Clemenceau, giving himself the airs of a Napoleon, had intimated to the Russian Government that he would recall M. Bompard if the Czar would dismiss the Foreign* Secretary, M. Izwolsky. M. Bompard at once called upon the Foreign Secretary, complained of the insult offered to the representative of the French Republic, and demanded the protection of the Imperial Russian Government. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in reply, explained that Rusisian laws contained no paragraph which would warrant the Government in prosecuting Prince Meshchersky before the ordinary tribunals, an punishment for Press offences against diplomatic representatives of foreign States is not provider for in the legislation in 'vogue. As the Ambassador, however, insisted; the Minister of Foreign Affair pnnted out the possibility of taking advantage of the state of siege existing in St. Petersburg, and inducing the Prefect of Police to exercise his arbitrary power and punish Prince Meshchersky. It is reported that the Russian Foreign Secretary added that however unusual it might seem for the extra-legal machinery of the Russian Empire to be put in motion by a Democratic Republic, and the arbitrary interference of the Police Prefect, be outspoken to inflict unmerited punishment upon a private journalist, his Majesty's advisers would, none the less, invoke the arbitrary action of the Police Prefect in order to give satisfaction to the Ambassador. Thereupon M. Bompard accepted this unusual offer, and quitted Russia. Today the official Press Bureau Agency publishes an outline of the incident, which will bring grist to the mill of i those who desire to sow discord between France and Russia. Prince Mesh chersky has been illegally fined £100. The Russian Government has been • guilty of a deliberate violation of the law, yet the offence committed is not expiated, while Franco-Russian relations are more unsatisfactory than before. The sole person who has gained anything is J"rince Meshrhersky. Vice-Admiral Touchard has been ap pointed Ambassador at St. Petersburg : in the place of M. Bompard.