New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-26
RUSSIA AVID ANGLO-SAXON UNION.

The letter from n prominent Russian journal
,st Mr. Vladimir Holmstrem. which We printed
on Friday will not pass without careful atten-
ton and not a little criticism from mulntnne
~ readers II Is to be regarded as expressing,
with more authority and accuracy than most
other reports the Russian view Of the relation
shin between this country and Great Britain.
end esnecially of the marked tendency NJ TINS
t,ma m make Il more intimate and fraternal
RriaNv stated that view Is that Great Britain u
moved In the matter by selfish desire TO use
tho United States as cats-paw lnimcally 10
Russ,a. that for us 10 cultivate British friend
chin ,xill he TO incur the antag0nism II not the
enmitv Of Russia and the other Continental
Powers: that Great Britain Is at heart hostile 10
This country while Russia is truly sincere ana
dlsipterested friend; and that the present move
ment toward Anglo-Saxon union Is perilons ana
may nrove disastrous TO the United STATES
That Is what Mr. Homstrem with an authority
which we shall not dispute, puts forward as the
view Of the Russian Government and people
We are indeed constrained TO accept II as such,
hecause the alternative would be 10 accept the
much less friendly views expressed by other
Russian Journals than the "Wedomosu, which
Mr. Holmsrem assures us are not truly repre-
sentative.
Probably the first and most obvious criticism
that will be made upon Mr.. Holmstrem's utter
ance is that he doth protest TOO much" There
Ia IN his letter, II he will pardon us for using
the homely simile. too much Of the tone OF God
Inns the friend not Short" Russia. he de-
clares. Is disinterested; Great Britain Is not.
The former we are glad TO believe; but why
should we not believe that Great Britain Is
eouolly disinterested? She wants to use us
against Russia, says Mr.. Holmstrem. The argu-
ment works both ways How do we know that
Russia does not want to us against Great
Britain? The suspicion would he justified by
Mr. Holmstrem's own utterance; for while he
dwels. probably with truth. upon the hostility
and abuse exercised toward Russia by part
Of the British press. he himself shows, on be-
half OF the Russian press, no less animosity
against Great Britain We are unable to per-
ceive any cause for believing In Russa's dsln-
terestedness that does not also operate 10 prove
Great Britain's. nor any reason to doubt Great
Britain's that would not equally cast suspicion
upon Russia's.
Mr. Homstrem reminds US that some bitter
attacks upon the United States have appeared
in the British press. That Is quite true; as true
as that bitter attacks upon Great Britain have
tacks still appear in few British papers which
are conducting a systematic campaign against
any closer relationship between that country
and this But So according to Mr.. HOlmstrem's
own confession. are some Russian papers hostile
to us What reason is there for thinking the
hostile press OF Great Britain Is any more rep
resentative or authoritative that that Of Russia?
Moreover, this highly suggestive circumstance
Is 70 be observed that those British papers
which are thus uDfriendly to America are the
very ones which are most hostile TO Russia
The majority Of British papers are friendly 10
this country and cordially approve It's conduct
In the matter OF Spain and Cuba; and those
which most friendly TO us. and most in favor
OF closer relations between the United States
and Great Britain. are the very ones that speak
most for more generous and amicable under
standing between Great Britain and Russia. In
brief. the anti American press Of Great Britain
Is also anti Russian. and the proAmerican is
pro Russian. That Is not merely an opinion
1t is an indisputable fact.
1t may be that the British press. or part OF
It, Is unjustly Russophobic. Probably the Rus