A RUSSIAN VIEW OF WAR

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 5

A RUSSIAN VIEW OF WAR

The Nationalist organ Novoye Vremya -recently published a remarkable article l>y Russia's most influential publicist M. Renshikoffj on the Franco-Russian Ailiance. The author warmly advocates { *ueh a modification of the treaty as will dispense Russia from risking war for i France when only colonial possessions are threatened. Moreover, Russia's interest is not, he maintains, to hinder war between Germany and Englandjbut rather to welcome it as advantageous to Russia. "I am unable to perceive what we and the French stand to gain by preventing war between Germany And England. On -the contrary, so far as one can see, this conflict would bring only profit to the French and ourselves. Whichever of the two belligerents struggling for hegemony happens to be worsted, the result would confer only gain on the Powers which were not struggling foiJiegemony. . . . Germany whether defswed or victorious would be extremely ■weakened by warj and that is exactly what is desirable for us. If we suppose that Germany, having smashed up England, bears down upon other great Powers, then the proper time will have come to offer her Continental resistence. In this case, which is problematical,.the treaty should be observed rigorously by

France and ourselves;" Discussing the Near East, the publicist declares that the partition of TurKey is at hand, and that it tehoves Russia to allow it to come. ' 'At istria-Hungary, having incorporated £ osnia and Herzegovina with impunity, .Veels sorely tempted to grab the other Balkan lands which Russia is protecting. U'Jie question may confront us very so<in, perhaps in the next few weeks, whether Russia should declare war on Austria ii: that Power occupies Novi Bazar while Rouinania seizes Servia. An ultimatum having been duly presented by us, the treaty of the Triple Alliance enteis into force, namely, the obligation for Germany to co-operate with Austria. Germany would have to attack Russia, whereupon France would be obliged to fall foul of Germany. Then would begin a sanguinary game of leapfrog, the formal cause of which was an obscure Servian district, which would, it is alleged, prosper better under Turkish than Austrian sway. I strongly doubt whether in this case public opinion in France and England would be on our side, and whether the Governments of those countries would uphold our protest." The article urges Russia to allow Austria to clear her way to the Sea and Germany to the North Sea, so long as Russia's possessions are left intact.