New-York tribune., 1903-07-19

structors of the Chinese soldiery, and in the
event of war between Russia and Japan the
latter would be able TO depend not only upon
the support of the Chinese people. but also upon
that of whatever military forces the Celestial
Empire may now possess.
Nor is it only in the Far Orient that Count
Whites appointment Chancellor is likely 10
dispel the clouds that have been darkening for
some time the horizon of peace. For he is known
to be strongly averse to the policy of General
Kuropatkin, the Minister of War aud also to
that of the Asiatic Division of the Department or
Foreign Affairs, in. constantly endeavoring to
create trouble for England in Afghanistan. along
the British Indian Northwestern frontier and In
the Persian Gulf. Indeed on one occasion Count
De Witte rendered his resignation Minister
of Finance when the Minister of War massed
troops on the Afghan frontier In such man.
ner as to lead to a demand for explanations
from London. NJ. de Witte is of the opinion that
Russia should be perfectly content with the po-
litical and commercial supremacy which she
enjoys in Persia, and that she would do bet
ter to devote herself to the development of
these advantages than needlessly to irritate
Great Britain by intriguing in Afghanistan and
by airing projects of invading India and by
futile Attempts to impair England's very definite
ly proclaimed supremacy in the Persian Gulf.
The knowledge that Russias policy in Asia
we'll as in Europe is controlled by states
man such as NJ. de Witte. who economic
grounds is bent upon friendly understanding
with Great Britain, and whose promises and
assurances may be believed, is calculated to give
keen satisfaction we'll as no little relief to
the authorities both at simla and in Downing
Street.
In the Balkans, too, the nomination of NJ. de
Witte to the Chancellorship is certain to have
an important bearing upon the situation. To all
those who have studied the Eastern question,
and who have kept track Of events in that par
ticular corner of Europe, it has been apparent
that there have been two conflicting influences at
work, the emanating from the Czar and
from his Minister of Finance being bent upon
the maintenance of peace and the avoidance OF
any trouble between Turkey and Bulgaria In
connection with Macedonia, while the other has
been busy engaged in fomenting disturbances
not only in Macedonia. but also in Albania and
la Armenia in the hope and expectation of ulti-
mately forcing Emperor Nicholas into another
conflict similar to that Of 1877, and which would
place Russia in possession of Constantinople and
of the entrace to the Black Sea. thus fulfilling
the dream and the more or less mythical po-
litcal testament. of Peter the Great Both the
Emperor and De Wtte are bent upon the main
tenance of peace in Europe, as well as In Asia'
the Chancellor-elect from motives OF policy'
while in the case of his sovereign considerations
of humanity weigh heavily in the balance. For,
in spite of all that has been said to the con-
trarv. the present Czar was entirely sincere in
organizing the Peace Congress of The Hague.
He entertains a horror for war, and 1t is
through no fault of his own that ever since the
conclusion of this congress his government mas
been the principal disturbing factor IN the con-
cert of nations and the obstacle to disarmament.
/ and to the Inauguration of the millennium which
he contemplated when he first conceived the
idea of the international conference at The
Hague With De Witte at the helm the activity
! of the Pan-SIav element both in and out OF
the Russian Government service. will be held In
check and the Cars embassy at Constantinople
and his various legations and consulates
j throughout the Balkans and the Levant will no
longer be centres of busy intrigues, aiming at
the creation OF connagration in Southeastern
Europe which would compel Russia to embark
in a war with Turkey, and possibly with Aus
| tria and with Germany. De Witte may like
wise be relied upon to discourage the agitation
| which Russian agents have been carrying on in
Norway for the purpose Of encouraging the lat
ter to cast off it's allegiance to King Oscar, as
well as its connection with Sweden. in order to
proclaim Itself republic under the protection
and suzeraintv of Russia The latter interest
in the matter IS to secure possession OF some of
the Norwegian ports on the Atlantic Ocean,
ports that open the year round and free In
the winter from ice. At present Russia has no
such outlet onto the Atlantic, access to which
can actually only be obtained by her through
the Baltic the entrance Of which sea is COM
manded by Sweden and Germany. The treat
ment of Finland has contributed more than
anything else to Illustrate the manoeuyres of
the Russian agents in Norway. For the Fin
landers and the Norwegians have much in COM
mon, and the Norwegians apprehend that IL
they exchange the sovereignty of King Oscar
for the suzeranty of the Russian Crown. they
may bring down upon their heads the fate which
has fallen to the lot of the Grand Duchy of Fin
/ land. De Witte knows better than any one else
the harm done to Russian prestige and credit
by intrigues of this AInd, especially when they
are fruitless, and he may be relied upon To dis
cOuntenance any further activity in the direc-
tion of promoting a Norwegian revolt against
the Swedish Crown
Nor will De Whites attention be restricted tn
/ the foreign relations of Russia He will en-
deavor to foster the welfare of the peasantrv
in order TO place them in a position to nav their
taxes. which masses of them are unable 10 do
to-day. He will insist upon the opening nm or
new railways and high roads in the interior
/ thereby facilitating access to the centres of
trade and 10 seaports. and will encourage the in
vestment Of that foreign capital which Is indis
pensable to the development of the colossal
latent resources of the Muscovlte Empire
EN- FTIE