The times., 1898-11-20

statement of what the author considers
to be the present Russian policy, and
strong appeal to England to have her
wits about her and thwart the designs
of the Slav. Among other things he says:
The position of Russia with regard to Gina
seems not yet to be realized. Russia, herself
semi-Asiatic, thoroughly understands how to deal
with an Asiatic government and 10 make herself
feared. The Russian spokesmen claim that they
are working for civilization-not for Russia alone
but for the whole OF Europe; and we are us
surcd that as soon Russia is strong enough to
declare free trade, she will do So There is no
need to express doubt OF the sincerity of such
professions. But they only to be understood
on the hypothesis that Russia seriously contem-
plates an eventual supreme domination, which
once firmly established, would enable her to
deal with all the powers OF Europe as gener-
ously as, for instance, She is now doing with
France Russia poses in Europe as the bull
wark of Christianity against the Yellow Peril;
while in China she is the protector" Of her
weak kinsman against the wave of Western ag-
gression. What China is taught night
and day is that Russia is land power, and
therefore alone can protect China; that she keeps
her promises and threats; that with England it
is always case of yox ct praeterea nihil.
Mr. Colquhoun's idea is that England
should establish herself immovably in the
Yangtsze Basin, and develop lines of COM
munication in every possible way. He
thinks that If this is not done Russia will
extend her frontiers on a line from the
Upper Oxus to the YangtsZe Basin. and
that no power on earth then save
India. Another opinion of his is that
Russian ambition is permanent plant.
rooted in the sentiments of the whole peo-
pie, and that the Russian Empire is built
ON an extraordinarily solid foundation.
he says, in conclusion:
To pariey with such a force is like parleying
with the tidal wave Only sea wall of solid
construction can set bounds to its inflow.
For three hundred years we fought France and
buiit up our empire in the process. And snail
we net face Russia now, rather than allow our
selves 10 be first replaced by her i China and
then ehgufed in the resulting deluge? For, with
China 3ussian Asa would soon be the Cars
and the whole world would in due course OF
time be suhiueated by Russia II Britain be but
true to herself, and draw the AngloTeutonic
races to her side, she has stii the means OF
avertlng this danger, which threatens the whole
of those races through the domination of the
world by the Slav power.
Whether one holds the view of England
that Russia is menace to civiliz tion as
the Hun was in the Middle Ages, or in
clines To some less Russophobic opinion
! this book is worth the reading of anyone
who has not thoroughly studied the East
ern question. Ii not only defines the Brit
ish attitude, but gives some very force
ful reasons therefor. What the attitude
of the United States Will be is as yet only
conjectured. This country has in three
short months become a recognized facto-
in the world-problem, and 1t is safe II
say that some of our statesmen will DO
hard studying on the subject of Oriental
conditions in the next few months "Chi-
ma in Transformation is a very good
book for the study OF the general public
(New York: Harper & Bros s1