The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-12
a U 8 9 I A.
The Attitude Of Russia in the
Present War.
Hsr Own Policy and Interests Favor Peace Her
EFFORTS to Prevent the War and Thon to
Locslizs I.-How She Succeeded in the Lat
tor Objsct-Her Friendly Counsels to
the French Provisional Government.

ST. PETERSBURG Oct. "a, 1870
me attitude OF Russia In the war between France
and Germany IL entirely misunderstood ana mis-
represented, aud nowhere moro SO than III tho
United States; aud therefore 1t Is that propose TO
give your readers true idea OF the mater. 1t Is
very natural that tho misconcepuoa snouli eiisr,
because when people do not Know the internal con-
dillon OF o country they not very apt to under
stand Its external policy.
The position OF Russia claims peace Its material
interests require peace. Its railways engage about
q thousand million OF roubles. Tho financial part
OF the emancipation reform has yet to DO achieved;
the social aud uriical parts OF II have been already
achieved, but the financial part still incomplete
30 that peace IS for Russia an absolute necessity,
and no realizes the fac more III an the Emperor
himself
The destinics OF Russia arc In the hands or man
who Is, by his personal and religious convictions,
an enemy OF war. He considers war as something
barbarous; he has q tender and good heart and his
ambition Is 10 make conquests ut home--cOnqu est3
OF Industry, conquests OF commerce, conauests OF
social REFORM These are the only cOnQuests to
which he aspires. Although resolutely determined
not To make war; he Is equally resolved to resist any
aggression made upon Russia Russian Interests
or this he gave q proOt In the Polish campaign OF
1888 when Napoleon cndeavored TO get up Euro
pean coalition against him. He docs not carry his
upon Russia or her interests but long as no such
attack Is made, he Is perfectly decided 10 keep tho
peace.
Just before the outbreak OF the present war tho
Emperor Alexander spent some 1--WE weeks at Ems
In the closest intercourse and intimacy with ais
uncle, the King Of Prussia. he let there for st.
Petersburg IN the beginning Of July with
tho most sincere conviction that Prussia
would not seek q war with France, and that sha
was even determined to avoid such war az long
as she could possibly do without sacrificing the
great principle OF national unity ana without losing
her national prestige. He carried With llm also tho
conviction that Prussia, although Practically dis
posed was perfectly ready for war, because she was
IN daily expectation of receiving proyocation from
Frnnce. But tho Emperor Alexander had not
reached st. Petersburg when the news or the Hohen.
zellem question came up. His first movement wac
to say to both parties, "For Heavens sake, avoid
warp At Paris, as We'll as at Bcrlin his Ministers
were ordereu to urge In the most pressing way,
measures OF cancellation. At FIRST his endeavors were
not unsuccessful. If the King consented TO Induce
Prince Hohcnzbern to reject the candidacy OF the
Spanish throneit was due solely 10 the Intervention
OF Russia ana tc the very friendly relations existing
between tho Emperor and the Prussiaa King.
After that Napoleon, who was firmly determined
upon making war, demanded from the KING OF
Prussia written promise that no member OF the
loyal family OF Prussia should accept the Spanish
throne. To such an arrogant demand, insoenfly
pressed by the French Minister Benedetti tho King
could not Yield without completely ADVOCATING his
honor ana prestige, and without creating a feeling
Of the deepest Indignation throughout the Kingdom.
But, Notwithstanding this convincing proof or tho
determination OF Napolconto have any price,
tho Russian governmen emit again endcavored to conclli.
ate and the imperial Cabinet more than hintcd at
COmUr0tli5e .
terms:-That the representatives OF ell the great
Powers at4Lonlon should state in pr0tocci the fact
Of the King OF Prussa's prohibition OF the accept
OF the Spanish throne by Prince Hoianzollern,
thus giving a solemn form to the concession OF the
King, without injuring hls dignity Even that was
refused by France. Napoleon was determined not
to be satisfied with any concession. Thodcclarat.on
OF war followed and hostiiities were began The
part Of France.
Then Russia, seeing thai it was Impossible to pre-
vent war, cpplied all In her power to ocalize
II and to restrict It's calamtics. The Rasalan gov.
eminent was aware Of the fact that there existed q
secret treaty between Austria aad France, by the
terms ofwalch Austria bound herself alter the very
first victory gained by Frcace the right bank OF
the Rhine. to send 100000 men into Silesla. The
Russian government therefore most firmly anu most
categorcaly, putting aside all diplomatic ferns and
phrases, notified both France and Austria that 1t
wished to lccalize the and to observe the strict
est neutrality; but that it would dc only on the
condition that Austria and Italy for Italy was also
party to thc secret treaty. should not Increpe that
u Austria should send one regiment to the frontier
Russia wculc send two, and that II Austria ehouId
Join France Russia would Join Prussia. In q word
the Russian Cabinet left tito the French government
to choose between the hostility OF Russia and the aid
. OF Austria saying to it nsubstancc-"rake your
sch0ice. II persuade Austria to join you in this
te1l In oIya hat u1a 1oo
you"
AT the came time Russhs ueed all her innuegce
at Copenhagen aad at Stockholm to prevent Den.
mark and sweden from participating In the war.
TOE heir to the Russian throne, with hts wife. the
Princess Dagmar, daughter to the King of Denmark,
went 10 Copenhagen to MAINTAIN that monarch in a
eondlticn Of neutrality and succeeded dong so.
The neutrality OF Denmark being thus secured that
CT Sweden was also secured and thus Russia, by
her own efforts succeeded In locaiizing the war and
IN preventing the general collapse OF all the Powers
because all the other, secondary Powers OF Europe
would have been mere or less Involved in the
struggle end the whole OF Europe would have been
scene Of war, devastation and carnage. Such
was RuSs!as policy a. the beglnn ming of the war and
sucn was the position that she occupied until the
capltuiaticn at Sedan. In adopting and pursuing
that policy the Russian government was the more
70 be commended because It had to maintain
u struggle against public opinion In Russia, which
public optaion was. at the beginning OF the war; Bit
terly opposed to Germany and favorable to France.
This state OF feeling can be aseriDed to two causes
1t was due, frst and principally. to the fear Of the
Pap-Germanistc Idea and OF the purpose Of Prus.
Rinfo absorb the Baltic provinces belonging to the
empire Of Russia, and partly, also, to the personal
feeling OF the Russian people against the predou.
mating position assumed In the governments By
Germans and by persons from the Baltic provinces
during tho reign OF the Emperor Nicholas But the
government, without losing sight Of the possible
dangers to be apprehended from Pan-GcrmanIsm
understood that those dangers were less serious ana
more remote than might arise from the success OF
France in thus war, and therefore. resisting AMI
6sOrrociiny the tendency Of nuhlc n r,osr