West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 24th, 1909. RUSSIA AND GERMANY.

West Coast Times, 24 June 1909, Page 2

West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 24th, 1909. RUSSIA AND GERMANY.

The present visit of the Kaiser to meet the Czar of Russia provides an opportune time to review the circumstances' under which in March last an absolute revolution took place in the relations between Germany and Russia. On the occasion referred to Russia received from Germany a blow so sudden and staggering that the statesmen of Europe were completely nonplussed. The facts are vei'y simple On the last Thursday in March the German Ambassador in St. Petersburg requested the Russian Foreign Minister to recognise forthwith the annexation of the pro/mces of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, though this was the very thing which throughout the past six months Russia had refused to do, except in concert with, the rest of Europe, and at a Conference formally summoned to iw\ with the matter, J,f Russia re* '

fused to take the step required of her it was intimated that Germany would consider the refusal an act of histility to her Austrian ally, and therefore to herself, and that her troops would at once cross the frontier. Further, Eussia was made aware, in what form we do not know, but no doubt with all the politeness possible in the circumstances, that a large portion of' the German Army had already been mobilised on the Polish frontier, and that if the Russian Government did not submio the German troops would be in possession of large tracts of the Eussian Empire before there would be time for orders for Eussian mobilisation to take effect. Eussia is stated to have asked for time to consult the Powers with whom she had been acting throughout,— namely, France and Britain. To this request a peremptory, if polite, refusal was given. Eussia was told that if she decided to yield she must yield at once. The Czar and his Ministers held that no other course was open to them, partly because they had been placed at what they believed to be an enormous disadvantage by the sudden and secret action of Germany, and partly because they realised that the internal condition of Eussia, her financial position, and still more the condition of her Army, would make it impossible for her to wage a successful war against Germany and Austria-Hungary combined, even though she received support from outside. It is now the business of Germany having satisfied her Austrian ally, to endeavour, if possible, to allay the bitter animosity that she hafe been creating against her in Eussia. How successful the Kaiser will be in this delicate diplomatic mission remains to be seen. . Incidentally the whole affair conveys a most important lesson for Britain and it is to be found in the secrecy suddenness, and efficiency with which the German military force on the Eussian frontier was mobilised and held ready for instant vse. The Germans did hot show any diplomatic signs of the action they were going to take an hour before they took it. There was no wordy debate in the German Beichstag in which Eussia was warned that she must not do this or that, or AustriaHungary was assured that Germany would take such-and-such action. German official newspapers maintained their old policy of saying nothing to piovoke illfeeling in Ivussia or to give any warning of the coming Mow. Germany outwardly maintained the most perfect calm till the very moment when she struck, and struck with all her strength. The only news in regard to the frontier was what may be called a contra-indication. A great many telegrams were scattered throughout the Continental Press at the beginning of the week in which Germany acted describing how Eussia had mobilised her forces on the Prussian frontier. Eussia had done nothing of the kind. But while Russia was alleged to be doing, what in fact she was not doing, Germany was doing that very thing so efficiently and so secretly that the first news of it to reach. St. Petersburg was the polite communication made by the German Ambassador to the Bussian Minister for Foreign Affairs. Commenting on this unpleasant theme a London writer says :—" Very possibly no such warning will ever be communicat ed to us. We can be almost sure that it will never be made provided we organise our resources for the building and equipping of ships to the utmost, and then make the most complete use of those resources. If, however, we fail in this respect, we may be sure that action similar to that taken by Germany towards Euesia will some day be taken toward us."