New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-02
WTTTE OR PLEHFEf


game of witte against Plehve has been made.
snd NJ de witte appears to have won. though
the full extent of his victory is yet TO be de-
termined The move has been made in the ap-
poiutment of NJ de Witte TO be President OF
the Committee CT Ministers mot Council or
Ministers, as some dispatches have had IT.
Some question has been raised as TO what that
means. and Russia lies so much behind veil
and her WAYS are so unlike the ways of other
lands that he would be rash who should de-
clare offhand the full answer TO the question.
There are Of course, those who do so, of whom
we can confidently say that half. If not all, are
wrong For half of them say one thing and
half OF them the exact opposite: and it may be
that the truth lies somewhere in the deep well
between them.
Some six weeks ago our well Informed con-
trfbutor "Ex-Attache' discussed at length the
expected appointment OF VI. de Witte to be
Chancellor Of the empire-a place not filed
since the death Of Gortschakoff-and dwelt
upon the vast advantages that would accrue TO
Russia from the placing of so enlightened and
progressive a man at the practical head OF the
government Such appointment would
mean that NJ de Witte would dominate all the
other ministers, and be TO Russia what the
Prime Minister is to Great Britain what Bis
marck was to Germany. Considering the quail
fly of the man, should say that scarcely
anything could be more suspicious OF good to
Russia than that. 1t would mean the defeat
and suppression of VI. de Plehve's reactiOnary
poncy, something of a check upon even NJ.
Pobedonostseff, and the bringing of all depart
ments of Russian administration forward tow
arc the same high and enlightened status as
that which the finance department has enjoyed
under NJ. de White. If this appointment means
that, something like year OF Jubilee has come
10 Russia.
But there are those, In Paris and elsewhere.
who take a contrary view. They say that NJ.
de Plehve has triumphed. NJ de White is be-
ing kicked upstairs" He is removed from the
Ministry of Finance, where he had great power.
and is made President of the Committee where
he Will have little power. The latter
place. they say, is chiefly ornamental 1t has
been filed by NJ. Durnovo. but nobody ever re-
garded him as the dominant factor in the gov
eminent. NJ. de Witte will be a mere agure-
head. while VI. de Plehve viii be the propeller
and rudder of the ship Of state. In such case
we might expect to hear the word given. Full
speed astern"'
We must certainly regard the former view as
more probably correct. 1t is known that the
change is In accord with NJ. de Whites own de-
sires. 1t is also known that. while President
of the Committee. he is TO retain a sort OF
suZerainty over the finance department More
over the new Minister of Finance, NJ Pleske.
was selected 10y NJ. de White himself, and is
not only his close friend. but we might also say
his pupil and follower. Again. NJ de White has
been appointed a member of the Council of the
Empire. That Is distinction which no other
minister enjoys. save in an ex off1cio capacity
during his tenure of his portfolio. NJ. de Witte
was already thus eX Oficio member OF the
council, but he is now made full member of il
independently Of his ministerial office. Whether
or not then. NJ de Witte becomes Chancellor in
name or in fact. IL seems 10 be assured that he
Will have much influence and authority as he
has hitherto enjoyed, and some more in addi-
ton. But must wait for developments to
show the full measure Of the change that has
been made. hoping earnestly that VI. de Witte
will prove 10 be the complete winner OF the
game. For his success would mean progress,
enlightenment and the placing OF Russia among
the truly civilized nations OF the world, while
the triumph Of NJ. de Plehve would mean reac-
ton and barbarism.