A STORY OF THE LATE CZAR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3486, 7 June 1884, Page 3

A STORY OF THE LATE CZAR.

The Paris correspondent of the “Argus,”speaking of some changes in the diplomatic representation of France at the Court of Russia, mentions that General Appert succeeds Admiral Jaures: —lt is a tradition of our diplomacy that France shall be always represented at St. Petersburg either by a personage belonging to our nobility, and having a handle to his name, or by a general officer of tho army or navy. Admiral Jaures was the successor of the late General Chanzy, who had succeeded Genera! Lo Flo, also deceased. These two last were very much liked at the Imperial Court, more especially General Le FI6, who, by his roundness and straightforward military manners, had won high favor with the Czar, and this favor saved us in 1875. At that time Prince Bismarck, mistaken in his calculations, and made anxious by our so rapid resurrection, was preparing to pick with us one of those groundless quarrels that have long been called-in our language f a German quarrel,’ which might allow him to finish with us for once and all. Our disasters were still too recent, and moreover wo were not ready, though to day I am happy to say wo are far better prepared. War at that time was for us certain, irretrievable ruin. M. Le Flo was charged by M. Thiers to go and beg Alexander 11. to interpose. “ Why,” said the Czar, ‘it’s not Germany, it’s France that wishes to make war." “How so?” “ Yes, indeed, have you not been arming for several months back, and concentrating your troops ?” “ Who can have told you that?” “M. de Bismarck wrote me so himself?” “Well, sire, if M. de Bismarck wrote that to your Majesty he was telling you a d d big lie.' The saying was un-, parliamentary, but the Czar only laughed and holding out his hand to the general, ‘ Well,’ ho said, ‘ I’ll take the thing into my own hands. I’ll go to Berlin, and have it out with M. de Bismarck.’ He went, and there was no war. Would tho same thing have happened had the Czar been the president of a republic or a mere constitutional monarch, like the Emperor Francis Josejh or Queen Victoria ?”