RUSSIAN DISLIKE OF ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7878, 19 January 1903, Page 2

RUSSIAN DISLIKE OF ENGLAND.

WHY? (By REBECCA A. INSLEY, in the "Daily Mail.'') What is Russia's attitude towards England? It ia a question, quickly answered by the first and last Russian you may meet. Whether you yourself are English or not, ho tells you frankly, "Russia hates England." If you are English, his gentle heart will smite 'him for the unmistakable bitterness into which he thas- 'bseu betrayed, and he vill probably add, "But the English nation aaid the English people are different. Wo (respect, admire amd like the English." It will often happen that this statement will be made merely because he has no conscientious scruples about lying, and he has scruples about hurting- your feelings. But in many cases also it will be the truth. While it seems to me utterly impossible g for anyone to remain long in Russia- without becoming thoroughly convinced that the national attitude towards England is one of positive dislike, slill there is abundant proof wherever you turn that the English people command* a respect, confidence,"" and admiration given to no other people in Europe with whom Russia has political relations. Kussini has an alliance with France, and the> Russians imitate thi> French in their manners, their literature , their ideas of lift. But if an individual Russian, a. 'Frenchman and an Englishman disputed about the terms <i[ ;i financial ■agreement, the. Russian would trust the Englishman and bo suspicious of the Frenchman. Russian workin.'.'n '.seldom lwivo trouble with an Eiigli-h foreman. Tho workmen know that t heEnglishman will trout them roughly if they do not attend to duty, but they" know they cm depend upon his looking after them if they fall ill, and that hia wordi of honour can ba taken absolutely. A Russian lady en gaging an English- governors takes it fi:r granted 'that. ,she is honest, but a French governess die distrusts in nine cafes out of ten. RUSSIA AND .'GERMANY. Among all European nations Russia has most to do with Germany. Her trade has been i captured by Germany, much of her biunking is dono in that country, and the Germ::,u language is. in fact, the commercial language of tho Russiana It is obligatory in all the good schools, «n-d is spoken with as much wise as llw native tongue. But you would practically never hear it in a Russian; drawing-room. The Russian will m>j il in business and wilh servants, but his detestation for the Germans and ;ill things German is so pronounced that he will not give the language social rccognii tion. I have several times found Russians who were half German refusing to talk Geimnii in social intcrcourfv. Tlie English governesses in Ru«sia have had most, to do in creating ;t kindly feeling towards the English. Long ago the Russians became so impressed with tlioir unimpeachable character that for several generations every Russian family which could afford it has entrusted the children in their most, impressionable, years to English nurses and governesses. * II: would be hiird to find half-j's-doxen men in high office Avho had not. learned English before Russian, althmigh they may nut .speak it now, who had not taken their fir.-t lessens in life from an Englishwoman. Alexander HI. followed his old English governess to her grave, and stood i.hcr.l weeping be-fore the people. Nicholas 11. lias ' p;.n.vi<»ned his English governess and given her an apartment in the Winter Palace for the rest of her days. In many families you Jind an aged English govrrne.-s contentedly pa.sMiig ihe last year.-* of her life among the < liiliun and grandchildren of h;-r f, :n . npils. a beloved member of the house-ln-i-!. At family gatlnTI in;:s tiio English tutor of the sons is often included ;;s an intimate friend. English teachers have, indeed, a position in Ru«:ia given to no other. Through them tlu- peasants have learned to t'Xjicct nothing but kindness from English people. English governesses on t he estates have the ■repi:laticn of always looking after the sick in the villages: and becoming acquainted with the needs of the* poor. A P. I.STOCU ATS— ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN. Yet it is not at all extraordinary that luyuud this iendevm-ss for the English t.. ■tellers of their childhood tho Russians sbuuld Jind themselves widely separated lrom the English. In characteristics they are- radically opposed on:: to the oilier. The Russian individually is cunning and deceitful. If hvhuigjig to the classes, he is extremely accomplished and versatile, with a liu'ht wit-, infinite charm, and quick, rcspoiuive nature. His reverfnee for hi." Eniptror is not the .wilgrowth of a personal rotation -such as the Engli.sli nobleman has j for his King. The Russian aristocrat, nevtr | knows the C/.ar intimately, however inij ju.rtaut lie may bf ; he gives ihe Czar the alieuianee of an Orient:"! 1 to his despot. Russian men respect English women, bill they laugh at their so-called priulfry, and do 'not undtrsta-nd it any more than they understand tho .Englishman's luva of outdoor sport and his inevitable- morning bath. The air of cool superiority' tinged with 'arrogance which the English aristocrat adopts towards inferiors is inexplicable to the Russian. While more servile Lo- his Emperor, he is at the same time more democratic to his dependent:* amd inferiors. He, has asecret admiration for the strength and prestige of tho English nobility, but his natural inclinations make him think le?s of lineage and give social footing more quickly to those who rise from the ranks. Russian ladies, with their impulsive, sympathetic ways, extravagant tastes,^ love of finery, natural grace of character and person/easy morals and slow movements, are as for removed from the prudent, conventional and athletic Englishwoman as the E-ast is removed 'from the West. They have little in common, 'and in the large English colony in St Petersburg you can,- meet scores of Englishwomen born in Russia who have not a V.ngle Russian friend. The men may. be business or club friends, but they seldom dine at each other's homes. It is- hardly fair to Russians to leave the impression that this is largely their fault. It is due rather to the exclusive social spirit which equally dominates the Britisher at home nnd abroad. \ The distrust-, of England as a, \nation which one finds deeply settled in the Russian mind has its foundation* partly in .misunderstanding, but more in the hostility for n- formidable rival and for the supreme Power which arrests the nations expansion eastward. JEALOUSY OF ENGLAND. Whether or not Russia wants India, wh:it lies beneath her desire for negotiations regarding the Afghanistan frontier, what her designs are upon Constantinople, are qupstion« whijsh enn be discussed intelliI gently by only a few. But that Russia wants a water outlet in the Black Sea is common knowledge ; that she was furious with Kn eland over the treaty with Japan is not denied by Russians . themselves. Russia is like a, huge bird panting to take her flight eastward, whither she believes her : destiny leads her, whither sire has an irresistible impulse fostered by generations. ! And England is the nation which -keeps '■ her back. It would hardly be within the ! laws of Nature for her to cherish a great ' love for England under the circumstances. . i . The national distrust of England is shown 1 ■in the surveillance to which British tray- 1 ellers arc subjected in Eastern Russia. An < English Army officer recently returning i home by way of Siberia, was followed by ' Russians wherever he went. His remon- j Etrnnces . were of no avail, although lie (] declared" his trip to be absolutely a private 1 one ; he was -told that the Russian; Go- « verriment did. not- want Englishmen in Si- j beria. It is not long ago z also, since tho i

American Ambassador in. St Petersburg had tf> vouch for an Ann.»rican citizen, who, suspected of being an Englishman, was so annoyed tjy the. authorities in Siberia that he could not proceed on his journey. As an American he was allowed t« do as he pleased, which ho could have done had he been of any other nationality oxeept English. But although Russia is jealous of England politically, she is doing all she can to encourage the investment of English capital within her borders. German capital is needed at homo ; Belgian and French capital has been invested in Russia with such disastrous results that it will take fifty years to re-establish Russian credit in those countries. American money will not come in because there is still plenty of room for it in America or nearer home. It is English money which Russia, hopes for now, and the Government is offering special inducements to bring it in. The establishment of a commercial journal in London concerning Russia, is one of several private enterprises of the Government' towards tbis end.