The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-10
A PoRTENToUs MEETING.

A rumor emanating from Constantine
pie and published in the Berlin Tage-
blatt says that the ear OF Russia has
called upon his mobiles to meet him at
Moscow in solemn council 1t Is point
ed out that if this report is true it has
a most significant and sinister meaning,
as on the three occasions during the
present century when similar meetings
of the Russian nobility with the czar
were held, great wars Immediately fol-
lowed. The first of such meetings in
the nineteenth century was In 1872, i'm
mediately preceding the Napoleonic war;
the second was in 1858 before the Crimean
war, and the third and last was in 1876,
just before the war with Turkey.
That Russia is contemplating some Sc
rious step Is highly probable. but there
are so many directions in which that
step might be taken that it is impossible
to form satisfactory idea Of its char
acter. The general impression is that
1t means war, but war with whom is a
difficult question to answer. Most Euro
peans would say, off-hand, that it. must
be with Great Britain, if any war is con-
templated; and this because they wish
to see Great Britain attacked. But
apart from the traditional enmity be-
tween Russia and Great Britain there is
no particular reason at this time for
the commencement of hostilities except
the fact that the land forces of Great
Britain are at present engaged in the
South African war and could only be
withdrawn at great loss to the interests
of the British empire
The situation in Chinese Asia is far
more provocative Of war for Russia than
any Anglo Russian question just now,
and there is the probability that Russia
might take advantage Of England's en-
gagements in South Africa to smite the
japanese deadly blow. But here in
tervenes the fact that the navy Of Great
Britain is disengaged and could be as eff
fectively used as though there was no
war in South Africa
Another and. perhaps, more imminent
question, which might assume the i'm
portance Of a casus belli, is the aggres-
sive and encroaching policy of Germany
in Asia Miner, a territory which Russia
has looked upon with a proprietary air
ever since it cast longing eye on Con-
stantinople. If Germany has secured
from Turkey the concessions which are
alleged to give the kaiser exclusive rights
from the coast of Asia Minor towards
Damascus, such a concession might erect
Germany into an unwelcome and intru-
sive partner in any contemplated parti-
has always regarded Turkey as it's own
peculiar prey such an intrusion would
be most unpalatable, and might very
easily be used as a basis for war.
AS matter of fact, however. Russia,
even with the support of France, is not
in favorable condition to engage in a
great war. With finances in a some,
what chaotic state, with vast popula-
ton suffering from famine. and the enor-
nous task of constructing the Trans
Siberian railroad still far from complet-
ed, and the prospect of vast expenditures
in maintaining the thousands of miles
of unproductive line which the railroad
will involve, it must be some vital ques-
ton affecting the very existence. of the
Russian empire which will be suf1-
ciently powerful motive to drive the car
to war. And war at this time. too,
would entail suspension of Russia's
plans of acquisition in Persia. which, if
successful. are far more important to
Russian interests than anything within
the scope Of her diplomacy
The only real danger that might lie in