NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15110, 28 September 1912, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A RUSSIAN VIEW OF WAR. ! The Nationalist organ " Novoye Vremya" publishes, a remarkable article by Russia's most influential publicist, M. Menshikoff, on the Franco-Russian Alliance. The author warmly , advocates such a modification of the treaty as will dispense Russia from risking war for France when only colonial possessions are threatened. Moreover, Russia's! interest is not, he maintains, to hinder war between Germany and England, but 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 for hegemony.'. . . . Germany, whether defeated or victorious, would be extremely weakened by war, and that is exactly what is desirable for us. If we suppose that Germany, having smashed up England, bears clown upon other great powers, then the proper time will have come to offer her Continental resistance". 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 behoves Russia to allow it to come. "Austria-Hungary, having incorporated Bosnia and Herzegovina with impunity, feels sorely tempted to grab other Balkan lands which Russia is protecting. The question may confront us very soon, perhaps in the next few weeks; whether Russia should declare war on Austria if that power occupies Novi Bazar while Roumania seizes Servia. An ultima-, turn having beeen duly presented by us, the treaty of the Triple Alliance enters into force, namely, the obligation for Germany to co-operate with Austria. 4 Ger-1 many would have to attack Russia/where- ! upon Franca would be obliged to 'fall foul of Germany. Then would begin a sanguinary game of leap-frog, 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 Govern-

merits of those countries ■would uphold our, protest." The/article urges Russia to allow Austria to clear her way to the iEgean Sea and Germany to the North Sea, so long as Russia's possessions are left intact.

HASHISH SMOKING IN PARIS. The latest addition to the questionable attractions of Paris is said to be a limine 1 smoking establishment, where indulgence in this Eastern practice can be secretly enjoyed. It is kept by a Parisienne, Mdlle. Something, who already has a number of customers. A password is needed to penetrate into the mysterious enclosure, and 'one who has been there says that Mdlle. Something herself opens the door to the visitors. A correspondent of a Paris paper describes a visit to the establishment. He went there with two friends. He says : Mdlle. took out of an old bon-bon j case a number of tablets that might have been chocolate, only the substance was green. She held them over a small lamp, and the paste became soft, and she rolled it into little sticks about the size of a Swedish match. The sticks were -in serted in the midst of some fine tobacco, and the cigarette was rolled up in the ordinary way. I smoked it, hesitating at first, but, as nothing happened, I gained confidence. But soon I found myself inordinately inclined to mirth. Every subject excited my hilarity. - The Eastern question made me inordinately gay. Mademoiselle herself became absurdly ridiculous. She grew visibly in size, the groom expanded to give her space to grow, and I suddenly perceived that I had lost all my | physical gravity. I felt as if I could fly or sail through the air. I was funny, and, as my friends had the same sensation, we I laughed until we could laugh no more. Then . I suddenly had an appetite that was outrageous. I coujd have eaten any amount of artichokes. The ugly little statuettes on the mantlepiece writhed with laughter at the idea. My two friends joined me in asking Mademoiselle to make the statuettes cease writhing and twisting themselves, or to throw them out of the window. We finally smoked other cigarettes without any hashish. Our senses gradually returned to their normal state. I was in a hurry to get out. As I left Mademoiselle said to me, "Come again." "No thanks," I said. "Never. One experience of hashish is enough for me." Besides, I had to go and eat artichokes. After that J decided that I had had. enough of hashish and the prospect of lunacy.