RUSSIA AND THE IRISHAMERICANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12399, 12 October 1903, Page 6

RUSSIA AND THE IRISHAMERICANS.

ALLEGED SECRET OPPOSITION TO ENGLAND. "An American," in the World's Work: — " The [American] public is learning at this late day that for years Russian diplomatic agents have been on the closest terms of intimacy with Irish agitators [in the United States] and have used them to keep alive the opposition to England. If the secret history of Russia's relations with the Irish malcontents could ever be published, the world would marvel at the amazing revelations, and it would be seen that in all the wide circle of Russian diplomacy having for its object the thwarting of Eng-

lish plans and fostering national hatred of England, no small part of the success of that diplomacy is due to the labours of Russian Ministers and Ambassadors in the United States, if any man had said a few years ago that there was -even a remote possibility, of .war. between the United States and Russia, he would have been laughed at for being crazy. And yet it was only the other day that one of the most important men in the Governmentsaid in the course of private conversation: ' What has impressed me more than anything, else in connection with the feeling aroused in this country by the Kishineff massacres, which has found its expression in public meetings, in private conversation and in letters which I have received from men of standing and reputation in all parts of the country, and of both political parties, is the spirit which shows itself in favour of hot permitting Russia to do whatever she may want to do without regard to morality or to the rights of other nations. I do not say that we shall fight Russia, but I do say that if this same spirit continues to increase, then, not this year, or next year, or even the year after, but within a, measurable time, we shall fight Russia because the interests of Russia and the interests of the United States will come in conflict, and when they do the United States is not a country, and the Americans are nob a people, who will tamely submit and allow themselves to be trampled upon.' I am not prepared to say that the year 1903 is to be regarded as an epoch-making year, in that it is the beginning of a new foreign policy on the i part of the United Stores, hut I know enough of the situation and of the feeling of leading men to feel confident in asserting that the place which Russia formerly held in the affections of the American people has been lost, and probably will never be regained, unless Russia's great political rival, Great Britain, commits an act of crass stupidity (as stupid as the alliance with Germany against Venezuela), and literally once more drives the United States back into the arms of Russia."