Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1891.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 245, 15 October 1891, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1891.

Ix is evident that the Russian Government considers it necessary to allay the anxiety created throughout Europe by the ostentatious friendship between Russia and France. With this object M. de Giers, the Foreign Minister, has been cent on hie travels, and has been handed over to the interviewers. It may be taken for granted that every word which M. de Giers uttered was carefully con sidered beforehand, He has had a severe training in the school of diplomacy. He began the business immediately after he left school, when he was only eighteon years of age, and he pasßed through every grade of the diplomatic service, till nearly ten years ago he succeeded Prince Gortchakoff __ as Russian Minister tof Foreign Affairs. No men are more chary of words than Russian diplomatists. If they allow statements to go forth to the world it may be accepted as a eerta'nty that they are intended to produce a definite effect, and when the chief diplomatist speaks as M. de Giers has spoken the occasion is certainly regarded as a particularly serious one. His country is undergoing the most terrible difficulties. A telegram published yesterday states that it will cost a hundred million roubles, or fifteen million sterling, to feed the starving peasantry during tho winter, apart from the cost of tha seed which will be necessary in spring. The Russian Government has lately sucoeeded in raising a loan nominally of twenty millions sterling, but at such a rate of discount that the amount really received will not be greater than the sum required to buy food. The proceeds of the loan are, according to telegrams, to be devoted not to buying food but to making railways, and more money wili have to bo raised if huge tracts of country are to be Bayed from depopulation by starvation. A great famine coming immediately after harvest time is almost without precedent, and it is evident that the Government, whatever may be its good intentions, has not the power to cope with it. The country is so vast, and the means of communication are so imperfect, that even if food were plentiful in one part ot the Empire tho people in other parts might starve before supplies could reach them. The usual results of famine have iollowed. Riots have been frequent, the people have seized food where tliey could get it, and there are even stories of oannibalism, What may happen in winter and spring, as matters get even worse than they are now, no one can teli, * Whatever may be the political discontent among certain classes in Russia, the ' peasantry have hitherto remained loyal, ' but loyalty oan seldom stand the test of : starvation, and people are always ready to blame their rulers in time of famine. ' The Russian Government, according to , its traditional policy ia times of internal ! difficulty, began to apply an outward , irritant by renewing a forward foreign j polioy. The question of the passage of 1 the Hellespont was once more raised a i forward movement was made in Central J Asia, aad the friendship between Russia J and France was trumpeted to all the ' world. Now it appears to be considered 1 that that anger to tho Government at I home is too serious to be cured by disturbances abroad, It may be necessary to I raise more loans in foreign countries < which would be impossible if war appeared ] imminent, and M. de Giers is doing his i beet to assure Europe that] whatever the 1

ajDpearanoes may be, his Government will nob do anything to {break the peace.