Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-04
DAILY KENNEBFC JOURNAL MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1905

future of the control of the gateways to
the Baltic may be that sea will never be
for Russia anything else but a sea
closed by ice. So that it will be natural
for Russia. sooner or later to begin
again her efforts ito gain an open port
TO the southwark. To attain this OBJ
jecI there are only two ways. the Per-
sian gulf and the Bosphorus.
The first is the easier Persia being in
a state Of disintegration. while the In
dian army, although quite capable OF de-
Tending India, is not in a position to go to
the deIence of Persia. Germany would
certainly help Russias schemes in the
Persian gulf if it were lett irec IN the
Bosphorous, while If Russia tried to
reach the Bosphorous she would have TO
face German opposition and fight Turkey.
which is much stronger than Persia
England at most, would remain passive.
would be the best Russia could do, as
to reach the Persian gulf would necessi'
tate forcing Il way several thousand miles
it would not be diSSimilar to the index
which took her to Port Arthur. She
would advance between two rivals.
On the other hand. if she directed hc:'
efforts toward the BoSphorous and offered
some facilities to England in the south
of Persia she could be tranquil; on the
east she would be in Il position TO protect
thu Slav cause against German influence.
which ~ growing every uiy- on lilt east
ern side she would prevent Germany
from being paramount in Europe Final
ly, there is another reason for which ii is
time that Russia should understand that
she must rely on England and not ON Ger
many. Germany is the power of today
and is putting forth every effort to make
England tn" power of yesterday and pre-
vent the rising of the power of tomorrow
Russia at the head Of a great SlaV con
federation. France. which is undoubtedly
the power of yesterday, has realized this
and has entered into IN understanding
with England while still AN ally of Rus
STA
Alexander the Third realized it when
he joined hands with France, but after
him Il clear political object on the part
of Russia WAS lost. The duty of Russia
toward her SlaV brothers was abandoned.
was forgotten. and the country with eyes
closed threw herself into the hazardous
game which naturally ended III Il ctt:tS-
trnphc. If now Germany succeeds IN
pushing Russia into the Persian gulf,
the adventure will mean Il quarrel with
England. GOODNESS toward France ana the
sacrifice of the SlaVS OF Austria and Tur-
key on the altar of German ambition. 1t
will finally mean a new conilagration with
Japan and England combined. with Ger
many looking out for her own interests al
most neutral.
IF, on III. contrary. Il uuadruplc under
standing could be reached httT"cn the
two dual alliances. France and Russia on
one side ana England and Japan on til"
other, having as objects the protection of
their Asiatic. African aud Australian
possessions, Russia might easily reach
her object on the Bosphoruus and support
Italy and the SiaVS when the inevitable
question of the Austrian succession
arises In this way, the threatening I'M
peralism of Germany would be quenched
and the European equilibrium would b.
safesuarded a thing which IS necessary
for the influence OF the United States in
the Pacific.
However. to be able to direct the Rus
sian politics toward these far distant bur
natural and possible aims. il is necessary
first to clear the Russian foreign otc"
Of German traditions and personnel and
haV" true diplomatiStS like Wittc and not
clerk dipomatists i'll charge of Russia $
foreign policy. all Of which v Ill be more
difficult than was the conclusion of peace
with japan.