ernment." M. Nelidoff was immediately transferred to Paris, the King refusing to receive him in farewell audience, as he also refused an audience to him when, after having presided over the Second Peace Conference at The Hague, he came to Rome thinking that in the four years' lapse of time the King's displeasure would have evaporated. By a strange coincidence M. Nelidoff was still Ambassador in Paris when, for the first time, the Socialists of allied France threatened the Tsar with the same hisses as their Italian companions, obliging him not to set foot in the Republic and to receive its President at sea. Now at six years' distance the visit of Nicholas II to Italy causes the same trouble with regard to the Socialists at home, and the same, in fact, a greater,-apprehension to the other members of the Triple Alliance, as the negotiations for the fourth renewal of that alliance are now being initiated. It was supposed that the way in which the Tsar paid his late visits to King Edward and President Fallières-viz., on his yacht-would solve the question of the visit to King Victor, the two Sovereigns meeting in the Mediterranean or the Adriatic, thus avoiding any fear that the Russian Emperor would hear any of those Socialist hisses that M. Nelidoff in his diplomatic note called a "least affront." Suddenly it was announced that the visit had again to be postponed on account of the health of the Tsarina, but unfortunately, even if it were true, no one believed it, as is only too natural considering past experiences. Of course Austria and Germany are secretly delighted, understanding that these contrarieties are just what they need to keep Italy for another period of years bound to them, and to prevent Russia from strengthening her international position. In all this affair of the Tsar's visit there has been the greatest short-sightedness on the part of Russian diplomacy, as M. Nelidoff, and probably his present successor, Prince Dolgoruki, have not understood that they should have thanked that dozen Socialists who, notwithstanding all the precautions and measures adopted by the Italian Government, would certainly have hissed the Tsar, as such a childish demonstration on their part would have caused a reaction leading to the most colossal manifestation of enthusiasm which any Sovereign has ever received in the Eternal City. |