PEACE OF EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 11

PEACE OF EUROPE

INTERVIEW WITH HUSSUN r?MIK- .■;.-:,.". ISTEB. .; ■:.,.; ' '.' .. 'NO WARLIKE ■ ".' Somo ea-mmtinieatioiis which tlio Russian Foreign Minister, 51. Sozonoff, Biado to a special correspondent of tho fhida-Testh pa[K;r, "As Est,"-wore «x----towsivQly reprodtiCEd by thfc entire Vicann Press on March 12, telegraphed the Vienna corroapondeftt cf the Lohdon "Daily Telegraph." Tho correspondfmt said: They aro doubtless of a naturo to disperse tlio clouds which bavo dar'keflfid the situation in Europe for some time. T!io 'Russian Minister expressed himself qisito opeftlj- both as to Kussia's present relations with 'Austria and Germany, and tho fiituro- prospects. - , Ho first- stated that thei_ intercourse hotwoon Austria. and Rnssia.is excel*. leat, and that the actions of tath aro most correct. Replying to his intorviownsr's remark that Russia's attitude has caused a certain irritation here and in Berlin, and also that the new grouping of tho Balkan States indicated a difference- of interests on ths two sides. M. replied: "tt ■pfloplo are irritatod in Vienna or Berlin I do not know to what cifcuwstftDCes it is to bo ascribed; I am, besides, compelled to contradict tho assumption of a difference betwoem the interests of Rvrssi-a and Austria iu tlio Balkans. Last year iho-fe certainly was feitsion, between Jtussi?i and your. Monarchy, but it Las now disappeared. No-itbdr your Monarchy not Bjjssia is aiideavourinK to oonquOf territory tlio Balkans. Uansoqucirtty, tho possibility of a confiiot tltre-at-ening from this side is completely excluded. R.cecntl.v, when tho new. Austrian Ambassador, Count declared to me tli.it Austria- was , striving after sur ■fricodsliio because she wished to seo peace in tho Balkans secured, I hastened to assure him that here- ho. would find ground excellently prepared for such efforts, because our efforts are in complete conformity with thoso of your Monarchy."

TEUTON AKD SLAV, A secofti question raised by tli« interviewer, about antngoßism between tlio Teutonic and Slav races, M, Sazanoff answered b-f remarking!— "Do not bc-liovc that in the twentieth century anybody can carry on a 'policy of sentiment. In our only too matter*offact -warld it is always only interests ; which have command. A war would become a universal war. Bu ttlio world's interests demand peace. \ "Nor do 1 see danger in the question of a renewal of the commercial treaty with Germany. She is the best customer : for our'agricultural produce, and so 1 tho conclusion of a new coffifiiereial treaty will Hot bo difficult," In conclusion-, the correspondent asked tfliats object tlio huge Eussian arma-j-nents have, .especially as tho Minister 'represented the situation as so favourable. To that M. gazanoff replied ,that the increase in armaments was ittitiated by Germany, and that had reac-ted on. Austria and France, , Therefore, as a matter .of course, Russia must go oil in tlio direct top once- taken. Wboil, at the same time, Russia builds rai-lw.iVß, it is natural, because, despite her extension, she possesses far few©r linos thaii cottn* tries with a much smaller mm, "We must," concluded tlie Minister, "develop. u«r powers. .To-day wo aro largo onotusfb, a : iwl_ (Mtly ' 0110 single thought fills our minds, that we must utilrsfe owr economic resource* to the utmost aiid develop further, No, 1)0; we want-on war, and though we are detel-opi-ng our army, we are doing so without ijreat exaf tioii. .We are doing it exclusively to force «n peace. wish for friendly and neigbbourl,? rslaliotts with Au.siria--Eitnga.ry, and ift the Rafflo m-nntier we -desire to live in friendship with Germany-. Wo do not tlihi.lt that those countries will Twaiiifest any other feelings towards us."