Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-20
VIEWS OF COUNT WITTE
PRESENT CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA
DISCUSSED.
The Country Needs Peace, Order and
Confidence in the Men at
the Helm.

| the Helm.
Count White, the former premier of Rus
STA. who went to Vichy, France, 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 it would be not only
| against his own interest but also against
| the interests of his country. On this con-
| dition he was pleased to receive CORE
spondent of the Associated Press who had
| known him at the Portsmouth peace con-
| ference and have long and interesting
conversation, recalling pleasantly the time
| spent together at the Hotel Wentworth
| The Russian statesman is at the Hotel
| des Ambassadors, and has the companion
| ship of his wife and his grandson. sixteen
| months old. to whom the count is devotedIy
| attached. The boy meets HIS grandfather
| when the latter returns from his daily walk
| and is carried in the statesmans arms up
| to his apartment.
/ Whites colossal figure, to which high
| ooots under his trousers give a soldierly
| air, now bears more melancholy air than
| when in America as though many of his
| entirely unchanged - he still constantly
| smokes cigarettes, which he puffs from his
| customary exaggeratedly long holder.
Faithful to the promise given to Count
| Witte the correspondent is unable to ca
| bic a direct interview with him, but can
give the following brief review of the stu
alton in Russia as looked on possibly from
Whites point of view:
Attitude of the Douma Opposed.
| 1t is generally known that White is ia
vorable to the progressive development of
Russian institutions, while maintaining or
der. Therefore he cannot approve of the
action of the lower house of parliament
which, according to the count Is doing its
utmost to develop into revolutionary body
and not only delays the reforms which it
advocates, but contributes to create and
| maintain a state of chaos, resulting from
the conflict between the legislative and ex-
ecutive branches Of the government Rus
STA needs peace, order and confidence in
the men who earnestly desire to heal her
wounds, and 10 enter upon period of eco
monte, moral and intellectual resurrection.
Instead of this the revolutionists, under the
pretext of patriotism which really is false
patriotism, are serving the interests of the
foreign enemies of the country by trans
forming Russia into the 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 countries should know each other bet
ter TO their reciprocal advantage. -'~
1t is also known that White is personally
favorable to the Hebrews and their desires,
as contained in the memorandum presented
to him when at Portsmouth by the COM
mtttee of prominent American Jews but
he strongly condemns the attitude which
the Jews are assuming in Russia in placing
themselves at the head of the revolutionary
movement against the advice of their own
enlightened leaders, thus making 1t impos-
sibie for their nom Jewish friends to assist
them. Witte thinks the Russian Jews who
are acting in this manner are blind, for II
they are defeated they will be more OPP
pressed than before, whereas IL successful.
the remainder of the population. which is
more anti-semitic than in other countries,
will oblge them to fly the country.
Russian aversion to Jewish preponder-
ance. the former premier thinks, should
not occasion surprise, because the same
feeling exists to a greater or less degree in
all countries, including the United States
where some of the rules regarding immi-
grafton have been designed chiefly to ex-
clude Russian Jews, whose number, espe-
cially in New York, Americans feel, is be-
coming threatening
Proper Course for the Jews
The Jews of Russia had only one proper
course to pursue. and that was to insist
that all rights granted other races be also
granted to them, nothing more and nothing
less. Having resorted to violence they
provoked reprisals and reaction, especially
from the conservative elements known as
the black hundreds" which element. from
| conservatism, have become as revolutionary
as those whom they fight. Count Witte
explains that the conservatives originally
were called the black hundreds" in de-
| rision. Their rising has shown what large
force they control and how easily a strug-
gle between two parties may degenerate
into civil war and anarchy The troubles
OF the past week at Bialyistok, he thinks,
are the best Illustration of the situation, as
it is charged, they were caused by Jews
ki Of of Iinrlr I1nef
happened to be an exceptionally conserva-
tive official, whose entire aim to main
tain order and tranquility. Count Witte
thinks that under such conditions II is nat
ural that the Jewish question in Russia
cannot be solved to the satisfaction of the
Jews or their friends
Necessity for Calm Deliberation.
Besides the Jewish question there Is a
higher and greater question that the whole
of Russia must consider-nameiy. the ne
cessity of preventing inconsiderate action
by revolutionists of all kinds, and opinions
endangering reform measures already put
in effect and threatening the future prog
ress OF the empire. On this matter Count
Witte believes there can be no diTerence
OF opinion among those who know Russia.
The government will not permit any con
sderation to interfere with measures IL
deems necessary to be adopted to stop the
| evils mentioned. In these days of heated
discussions about the possibility of the dis
solution of parliament those who oppose
such action and claim that 1t would be
coup detat, forget that parliament is not
the only power in Russia On the contrary,
| it is subject, are all representative legis-
lative chambers in Europe, to dissolution on
condition that 8 new parliament be con-
voked within six months. Those who ig-
more all this seem also not to know Russias
real condition with regard to the political
| education of the masses, the fllteracy of
| her people, THE immensely of her territory
1 and the conflicting interests of the different
| provinces. which make II difficult for any
parliamentary government to work In har-
mony, as 1t may in other smaller and homo
geneous countries.
| Count Whites daughter who went to st.
Petersburg to attend the funeral of her
| father-in-law. is expected at Yichy In few
/ days. Count White will remain until July
| 10. and will then go to Aix-ies-B aines where
| he viii remain until August 10. After that
| II the weather is not too hot, he will go to
/ Italy, otherwise he with go to Switzerland
or the Tyrol, and Will return to Russia In
| October.
Rebels In Natal Attack a Convoy.
| Rebels of Natal. South Africa, yesterday
4