Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
RUSSIAN CREDIT
MAY COLLAPSE
Her Securities Already Turned
Down in Berlin.
AFTER POWER AND PLACE
True Stain. Of Things From British
Viewpoint.
MPRIsoHnEnT OF Ar LEADERS
Drastic Measures Pursued by eovera-
ment to Placate All the
Strike Makers.
AFTER POWER AND PLACE
True Status Of Things From British
Viewpoint.
[MPRISoHlENT OF All LEADERS

The situation grows more and
more acute in Russia, and England
is watching the battle of great
forces with the deepest interest.
The momentary calm is taken as
but forerunner of more calani-
tous happenings that are to follow.
Some of Eussia's securities have
already been refused in Berlin, and
the end is not yet. The hours of
idle words are past, it is feared, and
real forces are about to engage in
deadly combat.
Special Cablegran to The Star.
LONDON. August 4.-The autecracy OF
Russia has won the first round In the fight
against the masses. but the reckoning Is to
come A general strike was snaugurated to-
day rather prematureiy. and the govern
ment dealt II a terrible blow by imprasoning
all leaders who could be found The result
was that revolutionary parties were stricken
as with palsy for a moment. A rally, how
ever, is expected shortly and the struggle
VIII then be carried on to finish. proba-
bly, attended by great bloodshed. The situa-
ton In Russia continues to monopoifxe pub-
lie attention here notwithstanding the cry
recently raised in certain newspapers that
TIE British empire is also In danger on ac-
count OF threatening conditions in South
Africa and Egypt. Rumors that Berlin
bankers have turned down" Russian secur-
tiles are based on the fact that some hanks
In the German capital have asraa THAR
eua'oihefs To- as far as possible, offer
non-Russian securities in their applications
for loans. This request is being committed
with.
The reported intention of AustrJa-u,p-
gary ana Germany to intervene in Russia
mas been officially and semi-officialIv re-
puoIateo IN all three countries, but in view
OF the extraordinary calm which Is being
preserved on the eve Of the trial of siren ct =
between reaction and revolution in Rus
sia 1t Is not uncomfortable that in certain
quarters necessity for European interyen-
ton Is being reckoned with should the revo-
Iutionary movement gain the upper hand.
It Is admitted by competent observers that
FORCES OF reaction in Russia are capable of
energy.
the apparent defeat at the outset does NOT
lnolcate inherent weakness of the political
combination opposed to autocracy. The
authorities. on their side. are making great
ui1iitary 0splay and threaten utmost rigor
In putting down disturbances attending
the general strike just inaugurated The
great factor In the situation Is the peasant
ana most people believe agrarian riots on
an unparalleled scale are practically GER
tain when the harvest is over.
WorJr T5la
Words. 1t is pointed out. have done their
best and worst. The dark and anarchic
grapple of real forces is now to begin.
whether the conflict will last for a few
months. or for a decade, or, with yicissi-
tudes or fortune. for generations. is what
most competent observers OF Russian condf
lions confess theme elves unable to prediet
The ultimate fall of the autocracy. for
which the car still struggles, is believed to
be certain. but that contamination may be
far distant, and across the near future is
drawn thick veil which no insight can
penetrate.
Is the Army LoyaIp
Hitherto the Russian army has been. on
the whole. loyal. but the army Is part of the
nation. Troops breathe in spite Of all pre-
cautions. living in the atmosphere around
them. swarming with the bacilli of revolu-
ton. That their loyalty can remain perma-
nently immune is impossible. The only
question is whether. In spite of many regi-
ments being infected by the spirit of insub-
ordination. effective masses of troops are
still exempt from contagton. This is the
point for the government to seriously con-
slider.
The autocracy may be encouraged in
overweening confidence by the initial and
deceptive appearance of success but the
policy of sitting upon the safety valve will
not prevent an explosion. Success of an
archical forces would Immediately cause
collapse of Russian credit and possibly
break the handspring of the worlds finance
Russian officials in London say that the
leaders of popular parties in Russia are
solely actuated by desire to gain power
and place. and have not the welfare of the
country at heart.