STRIKING HANDS WITH RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2480, 5 June 1915, Page 13

STRIKING HANDS WITH RUSSIA

» HOPES AND PROSPECTS, An interesting letter from M. Goremylrin, the Russian Prime Minister, in w!hich he wrote most hopefully of tho future relations botweon Great Britain and Russia, was road recently at a leoturo given by Dr. Hagberg Wright, Librarian of tho London- Library. Tho proceeds of the lecture were divided between the Slav Relief Funds and other oharities Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, who presided, speaking with knowledge of Russia going as far book as 1870, said the more he had known the people the greater had; been his esteem for them. All that time, between 40 and 50 years ago, he puolioly expressed a hope, a vague hope then, that somo day the two nations would bo drawn more olosely togethor. At that tifno ho spoke to deaf ears, for the Britiph people wero prejudiced and jealous, and he scarcely thought he would live long enough to soo the wish come to realisation. But the unlikely had happened. The chairman coucluded by reading the following letter from M. doremykin, the Russian Prime Minister:— "I can promise you that any sympathy you show to my people will meet with hearty response. We are Allies now and I hopo for ever, and it is time that we saw and Btudied each other more. May the war whioh has joined our armed forces he also tho means of bringing togethor our two nations. Every Englishman vill be treated iu Russia as a friend. I firmly helisvo that our union lies tho hope of the world's peaoe." Dr. Hagb'erg Wright, ia his lecture, which of explanatory comments 'ou lantern pictures of Russian life, chiefly among tho peasantry, Baid the hot breath of war had iilfused now life ajid thoughts among rulers and people. The people, who took little interest in the Japanese war, had rißen to great sacrifices because they laiew their cause was just. Those who had known Russia in the past had fresh hopes in her Future, rejoicing in tho hopo that bit by bit the barriers of prejudice would be broken down. Ho would not discuss internal politics. The hopeß of bettor days were dawning. The Tsar walked in safety through the streets, and great changes and industrial progress were soming ovor tho Jlimpire. In books, articles, and speeches, dealing nith the causes of the war, probably no name has appealed more frequently than that of Nietzsche, the philosopher of "The Will to Power." He has been xrapled, some people consider most unfairly, with 'i'reitscke, a 9 tho great ?rs of German militarism. Few pedplo tnow what he really did write or what , ;et of'ideas he stood for, and consequently ill sortß of conclusions are arrived nc. Flie lecture to be given, to-morrow night n Everybody's Theatre by Mr. H. Scott Bc-nnett, tho well-known Auckland lec:urer, on "Nietzsche: The Man and His Message," is expected to be; of great hi;erest to all students and thinkers.