Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-09-17
Britain and the
Russian -
Wolf" :
BY ANDREW CARNEGIE

MsaxxR HERE are occasions no doubt, though rare, when reason
A for apprehension may arise, but. there seems to me to be
two pure deluaons which especially afhict Britain One is
~ the cry of "Rusim wolf!' When an increased army is
demanded it is against this it is said to be needed. In Mr..
Balfours wcghty speech upon British defense this stands IN the lore
ground. A great RESERVE ARMY must be held IN Britain pre-
pared, capable and ready to reenforce the army in India when the
Russian wolf appears. How the fear of Russian attacks upon India
arose it is difficult to understand. 1t is true that she has annexed
coterminous territory, but never yet have we been able to obtain from
any source a reasonable explanation why Russia should desire or why
she would take, if offered, SUCH A BURDEN AS CONIROL
OF INDIA.
Unlike the other regions annexed by her, India is today already
fully populated, if not overpopulated. There is no room there for
Russians any more than for Brtons to settle, and if there were the
climate, fatal to Briish/ would be equally SO to Russian occupation.
Britain obtains no decided advantage from India, which trades freely
with all nations. 1t cannot be made to yield revenue to any foreign
occupant WITHOUT SAPPING ALLEGIANCE. It's occupation
can only be a drain upon the military power of the occupant, as it lis
admittedly the chief drain upon that of Britain. 1t is not in the
nature of things that seventy or eighty thousand foreign troops can
hold control of three hundred millions of people when these become
intelligent, as the people of India are fast becoming through British
schools. Were Britain free from India today it would be unwise in
her to take possession if that were offered, because IT CAN NEVER
BE COLONIZED. 1t must be held by force, and hence remain for
egn to the conquering nation, union being impossible.
These considerations are not likely to be overlooked by Russia,
even if she may demonstrate" now and then in the tortuous throes of
European politics, as if she seriously had intentions of menacing
British power in India. +
Let there be no delusion about the Indian problem. The aim of
the educated there today is to govern their own country some day,
and this sentiment must soon permeate the others, but notwithstand-
ing TINS L can bear testimony to one important TACT highly credltable
to British rule: Not one Indian ever spoke to me upon the subject who
did not express decided preference for British supervision over that
of ANY OTHER POWER. The safety Of Britain lies in this.
There is a second British delusion, in the opinion of the writer, as
wild as the first and equally baseless-Germany as a rival to Britain
upon the sea. The fear of German rivalry is we'll grounded, but it is
ON THE LAND, not on the water. Her industrial development
is a great fact in the worlds history which cannot fail to attract atten-
tion. She is already a great empire and rapidly growing greater.
BUT IF THE INVASION OF BRITAIN WERE EVER IMMINENT,
A WILD SUPERSTITION, IN ALL PROBABILITY AMERICA WOULD
BE FOUND AT HER SIDE. THE eRIToN DISTURBED ABOUT WHAT
THE GERMAN NAVY MIGHT DO IN COMBINATION WITH ANY Pos
si5LE ALLY iMAGlNEs VAIN THINGS. +