ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9321, 23 January 1896, Page 3

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE rnES3. . Slß,—ln your leader of yestorday yon re ferred to tho position which England main' tains in relation to the great Powers. The isolation of England iorrria the subject of an excellent article by Mi , K. J. Dillon i» the last number of the Contemporary Review, which is well worth porusal. Mr'Dillon points out the menace which 13uglund is (c the Russo-French and Triple. Alliances by her ability to throw her weight into one eo&le or the other. Ho says t liau scarcely a week, passes without some nontineu'al / journal of influence inditing an attack on "English egoism." Mr Dillon tstroiigly advocates an Auglo-Ruwun Alltaneo on the basis of lttot year's rnpiirocJidmeut. .'Jibe objection to tins, of course, is that if suoh an alliance were possible it would have been arranged at that time, which seems to argue that there is some secret objection known .only to the groat statesmen of Loth countries. A passage, by Mr \V. T, Stead, in the last number of the Jlsview of Ucviewt, it worthy of quotation here. Ho eaye :—-" In Asia, British policy .should be to come tc terme with Russia, and to facilitate the opening of Siberia by every means in our power. It is monstrous—it is even in-human—-to expect ttueeia, with half a continent on her hands, to put up for' over with uo other outlet to the sea than a port at the back of J hoy on t, which is frozen up half the year. So far from regarding the Russians gaining access td &n ice free harbour with jealousy, we ought to make tho attainment by Russia of that end ono of the objects of our policy, taking as a quid 'pro quo for our support tnat commercial 'treaty with' Rusaia which both the late Emperor and; M. Wischnegradsky regarded as moet Aesifteble in tho interests- of both' Empires." '. This view will,. I think, commend itself to all who are watching international' relations at this critical period. In the light of recent events Russia is, without much doubt, England's best friend, and an alliance, if it be possible between these (wo- great Powen would greatly strengthen the position 4 both.—Youra, &o.\ " ' B,