Ottoman Diplomats

Synopsis

As the suppositions of the European continental press about the resignation of the Russian Emperor (Alexander III) did not seem to be well-founded, Etienne Carathéodory Effendi never bothered to mention it up until now. It took a while before the news, launched by the newspaper of Augsburg, was contradicted by the government of Saint Petersburg. The Russian government published the complete programme of the Emperor’s future summer projects, proving that he rumours were just fantasies. However, after the death of his sister, Great Duchess Marie, Alexander III might have been in a melancholic state. His signs of discouragement and sadness could have been mistaken for a wish to abdicate. Some events added to the rumours, such as the visit of Russian diplomat, Count Paul Schuwalow, to Berlin and his talk with the German Emperor Willem and Prince Bismarck. Also incidents of etiquette, i.e. the presence of the Duchess of Edinburgh (Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia) in Saint James’s Palace provoked gossip. Indeed, normally the Emperor, closely tied to both courts, should be the mediator.

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