The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-20
Colossal Figure More ytS :
 chOIy Than When ss9 ,tca NEEDS CONFIs t IN MEN
Russian Aversion to Jewish Prepon- derance, He Says, Is Not Surpris- ing Because It Exists In
 Every Country.

Vichy France. June 1s.-Count Witte, the former premier of Russia. who came here for rest and to take the cure, his health being somewhat impaired by the hard work and worry of the premiership refuses to be quoted in connection with Russian politics, taking the ground that 1t would be not only against his own per- sonal interest, but also against the in- terests of his country. On this condition he was pleased to receive a correspondent of the Associated Press who had known him at the Portsmouth peace conference, and have long and interesting conver- sation recalling pleasantly the time spent at the Hotel Wentworth.
 The Russian statesman is at the Hotel Des Ambassadeurs, and has the compan- ionship of his wife and his grandson, 16 months old, to whom the count is devot- eaIy attached. The boy meets his grand father when the latter returns from hin daily walk and is carried in the states mans arms up to his apartments.
 Bears More Melancholy Air
 Wittes colossal figure, to which high
 
 appearance. now bears a more melan- choly air than when in America. In one thing he is entirely unchanged-he con stantly smokes cigarettes, which he puffs from his long holder.
 taithful to the promise given to Count Witte, the correspondent Is unable to cable direct interview with him, but can give the following brief review of the situation in Russia as looked on as pos sible from M. Wittes point of view:
 It is generally known that M. Witte is favorable to the progressive development of Russian institutions. while maintaining order Therefore he cannot approve of the action of the lower house of Parla- ment, which, according to the count, is doing its utmost fo [, velop into 2 reYolu- tlonrr, NodN, rills only Hays the re- forms which it advocates, but contributes to create and maintain a state of chaos resulting from the conflict between the legislative and executive branches of the government.
 Needs Confidence In Men.
 Russia needs peace, order and confi- dence in the men who are desirous to heal the wounds, and to enter upon period of economic, moral and intellec- tual resurrection. l1lSlestu ol lliS, bhS under the preteXt of patri- otism, which really is false patriotism, are serving the interests of the foreign enemies of their country by transforming Russia into powder magazine of Europe. This is not generally known abroad, and is especially regrettable with regard to the Americans who always have been good friends of the Russians. The two should know each other better to their reciprocal advantage. It is known that Witte Is personally favorable to the in the memorandum presented to him when at Portsmouth by the committee Of American Jews that he strong ly condemns the attitude which the Jews are assuming in placing themselves at the head of the revolutionary movement in advance of their own enlightened lead CTS. thus making it impossible for their friends to assist them Witte thinks the Russian Jews, who are acting in this manner. are blind, for If they are defeated they will be more oppressed than before. whereas If successful the of the population, which Is more anti-semitic than in other countries, will oblige them to fly from the coun- try.
 Some Aversion Exlsts Everywhere.
 Russian aversion to Jews preponder ance. the former premier thinks. should not occasion uneasiness because the same feeling exists to greater or less degree in all countries, including the United States. where some of the rules regard ing immigration have been designed chif- ly to exclude Russian Jews, whose num- bers. especially in New York. Americans feel is becoming threatening. The Jews of Russia had only one proper course to pursue, and that was to insist that all rights granted other races also be granted to them, nothing more or noth- ing less.
 Having resorted to violence, they pro voked reprisals and reactions. especially from the conservative clements known as the ''blaclS hundreds" which element from conservatism has become as revo- lutionary as those whom they fight Count Witte explains that the conservatives were originally called the black hundreds in derision. The troubles of the past week at Bialystok are the best illustrations of the situation as they were caused by the Jews killing Chief of Police Derkat- choff, who happened to be an exception ally conservative official. whose aim was to maintain order and tranquility.
 Besides the Jewish question. there Is a higher and greater question that the whole of Russia must consider, namely the necessity of preventing inconsiderate action by revolutionists of all kinds en- dangering reform measures already put in effect, and threatening the future progress of the empire on this. Count Witte believes there can be no difference of opinion among those who know Rus sia.
 VIII Brook No Interference.
 The government will not permit any consideration to interfere with measures it deems necessary to adopt to stop the evils mentioned he says. In these days of heated discussions about the possibility of the dissolution of Parliament those who oppose such action and claim that 1t would be a coup d'etat forget that Par liament is not the only power In Russia On the contrary it fig subpect as are all representative chambers in Europe to dissolution on the condition that new Parliament be convoked within six months. Those who ignore all this seem also not to know Russia's real condi- ton with regard to the political educa- ton of the masses the illiteracy of her people. the immensity of her territory and the conflicting interests of the diff ferent provinces which make it difficult for any parliamentary government to work in harmony as 1t may in other