English Translation

30 - 27 - "This nation is sacrificing all other interests to trade." 1) By rejecting any political commitment, England is all the more pressing for the conclusion of a new large-scale trade agreement - even with regard to the further expansion of its fleet. Here, however, the Russian side is hesitant, because as much as Russia brought English trade, on the other hand, one clearly saw the dangers of one-sided economic dependence on England. Still far into the 19th century, a large part of the Russian 2) foreign trade lay in English hands. From the outset, Katharina wants to keep her hands free for contracts with other states and not give the English a monopoly position again. It benefits from the fact that its position vis-à-vis England will become stronger as Russia, as it progresses along the Baltic Sea, becomes the sole owner of the economic assets England needs, thereby making it possible for England to establish the Russian monopoly of the naval stores. On the Russian side, on the basis of the English navigating acts, it is demanded that the English and Russian merchants in the two countries be treated equally. England is Macartney in the worst attacks against the Russians and their lack of culture and education- It had been a mistake to have taken care of Russians for a civilized nation and treated them accordingly. International law could not make much progress in a country where there was not even anything similar to universities. Since the Russians are barbarians and uneducated in everything that promotes spiritual development and leads to discoveries, he promises to 1) Lead by Gerhard, S.l83, ed.90. 2) Firsov, Pravitel' stvo i obščestvo v ich otnošenijach k vněšnej toorgovlě v carst- vovanie imperatricy Ekateriny II. Kazan' l902, p.3l5 u.Anm.l. 3) Kulišer, Očerk istorii russkoj togovli, Peterburg l923, p. 202. 4) La Cour de Russie, p.263: Letter from Macartney of 22 February 1976 5) Solov'ev 27, p.225.