Konstantin Katakazi
Konstantin Gavrilovich Catacazy or Katakazi (Константин Гаврилович Катакази) (1830 - 1 April 1890) was a Russian diplomat of the 19th century, minister plenipotentiary of the Russian Empire to the United States.
Family background
The Katakazi family was a Russian aristocratic family of
Anton Katakazi's two sons got involved in Russian politics. The older son,
Beginning of diplomatic activity
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
Konstantin Gavrilovich Catacazy intended to follow his father's career and entered the staff of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the beginning of 1865, Konstantin Catacazy wrote a memorandum to Prince
Gorchakov's comment was favorable but he took no decision on the matter and sent a copy of the memorandum to Eduard Andreevich Stoeckl, minister plenipotentiary of the Russian Empire in Washington, leaving it wholly to Stoeckl's judgment and discretion to act upon the plan.[1] A mediation a month before the fall of Richmond was however not an option.
After having negotiated the
Mission to the United States
Konstantin Catacazy arrived in Washington in late 1869. His diplomatic background was, however, mainly linked to the diplomatic relations of Russia with the Balkan States, where Russian envoys were frequently involved in intrigues in order to influence the internal policies of countries in which they were accredited. Catacazy tried to use the same diplomacy in the United States. He resisted a personal claim of an American citizen against Russia trying to force through various methods to withdraw his claim. During the negotiations which were in progress through the British and American Joint High Commission for the settlement of the
Diplomatic tensions between Russia and the United States
Finally the situation seemed completely out of control and President Ulysses S. Grant instructed Secretary of State Fish to request the Government of Russia to recall minister Catacazy. The letter to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:
"On his arrival at Washington, Catacazy gave the promise of being a useful and very acceptable Minister, and made a very agreeable impression. Soon however he began to make himself very officious, interfering in questions not appropriately connected with his Legation and in those pending before Congress, importuning Senators and Representatives and resorting to personal interviews and solicitations unusual on the part of representatives of other powers accredited to this government, distasteful and annoying to the legislators thus indecorously approached and tending to embarrass the free course of legislation on the subjects with respect to which his interference was obtruded. He did not hesitate to use the newspapers of the country to influence public opinion on questions pending before the Government and indulged in much license in his denunciation of measures and individuals. In his conversation he was even more severe and unrestrained and employed abusive and vituperative language toward very many persons, including several in public positions and enjoying the respect and confidence of the community. The impropriety of a foreign Minister thus attempting to influence and to misdirect the public opinion of the country must be admitted as sufficient ground for his ceasing to be a proper agent between the Government which he represents and that to which he is accredited"[5]
This letter was conveyed to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by
While the visit of the Grand Duke in America was generally considered a success, his reception at the
On 26 November 1871, Catacazy informed the State Department that General Alexander Gorloff, the military attaché, would take charge of the Russian Imperial Legation in Washington[8]
President Grant's comments
The diplomatic tension generated by Catacazy's attitude had been so intense, that President Grant considered it necessary to inform Congress about the conflict in a special message.
"The intimate friendly relations which have so long existed between the United States and Russia continue undisturbed. The visit of the third son of the Emperor is a proof that there is no desire on the part of his Government to diminish the cordiality of those relations. The hospitable reception which has been given to the Grand Duke is a proof that on our side we share the wishes of that Government. The inexcusable course of the Russian minister at Washington rendered it necessary to ask his recall and to decline to longer receive that functionary as a diplomatic representative. It was impossible, with self-respect or with a just regard to the dignity of the country, to permit Mr. Catacazy to continue to hold intercourse with this Government after his personal abuse of Government officials, and during his persistent interferences, through various means, with the relations between the United States and other powers. In accordance with my wishes, this Government has been relieved of further intercourse with Mr. Catacazy, and the management of the affairs of the imperial legation has passed into the hands of a gentleman entirely unobjectionable."[10]
Konstantin Catacazy left the United States, but that did not finish his intrigues. In 1872, he published a book in Paris about his conflict with the Government of the United States. Entitled A Diplomatic Incident, it was conceived as a letter addressed to
References
- ^ Russian Archives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Stoeckl, Minister Plenipotentiary of Russia to the United States, 6 February 1865.
- ^ Inga Clemens - Политические и торговые сношения между Америкой и Россией [1]
- ^ Предательская глупость - Наше Время, Nr. 88, 19-25 June 2008.
- ^ John W. Foster A Century of American Diplomacy s:A Century of American Diplomacy/Chapter XI
- ^ Correspondence of the State Department with Mr. Curtin The New York Times, 7 December 1871.
- ^ White House - Royal and Titled Guests, 1908
- ^ The Grand Duke pays his respects to the President - The New York Times, 24 November 1871.
- ^ Minister Catacazy and His Relations with the Government The New York Times, 27 November 1871.
- ^ Ulysses S. Grant - Third Annual Message to the Senate and House of Representatives, 4 December 1871 (online text)
- ^ Ulysses S. Grant's Third State of the Union Address s:Ulysses S. Grant's Third State of the Union Address
- ^ M. de Catacazy - Un incident diplomatique. Lettre au chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase. Paris, Amyot 1872.
Further reading
- Farrow, L. A. (2021). The Catacazy Affair and the Uneasy Path of Russian-American Relations (Library of Modern Russia). New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.[1]
- .