The Dominion FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. THE LATEST CHANGES IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. THE LATEST CHANGES IN RUSSIA

/ Occasion for sincere regret is given in the announcement that M. MiLitjKOFF has resigned the portfolio of Foreign Affairs in the Russian Provisional Government. There is universal testimony to the fact that he is possessed in an unusual aegreQ of tjic most essential qualities of a, great Foreign Minister— not <)f necessity the qualities which enable a man to adapt himself eas- / Hy to the circumstances of an acutely unsettled period in home politics. Master of aoout a dozen foreign languages, a student of history, an author and journalist of note, Miliukoff is credited with being also a practical statesman of the first rank. For years past ho has taken a big part in promoting the democratic sentiment in Russia which found vent in the revolution. He was untiring in his assaults on the bureaucratic regime, and led tho Parliamentary attack which wrecked the pro-German Sturmer Cabinet in November last. Though his term of office in the Provisional Government has been brief, it may safely be assumed that he will take no obscure part in Russian and internationalpolitics as time goes on. M. Miuukoff's retirement at the present stage would go far to counteract the favourable impression made by the announcement regarding the policy and standpoint of the reconstructed Cabinet but for the fact, that he seems to have differed from "his late colleagues on other ouc6tions than those of broad ■ policy. The immediate cause of his resignation, according to a message from Petrograd, is a- differenoe in views between himself and the- Provisional Government on the question of reorganising the Cabinet. Much as it is to be regretted, particularly at a time when Russia stands desperately in need of good leadership, M. Miliukoff's resignation does, not necessarily mean that the reconstructed Government is committed to a policy which he would on broad grounds disapprove. The policy which he has enunciated and advocated is on all fours with that set out and defended by Loud Robert Cecil, in a spcech_ reported to-day. It is a policy which draws a distinction between political annexation in the ordinary sense and the emancipation of oppressed races and groups. In the absence of explanation, M. .Miuukoff's . retirement would 'have implied .that tho Russian Govern- ' menfc,, and not merely an extremist , section in Russia, stood opposed to this just policy. But the report • I which has been quoted indicates that ■ his' action was taken on other grounds, and if the statement. set- . ting out the policy of the reconstructed Cabinet, the Duma Exccu- ; tive, and the Council of Workmen | and Soldiers, is more than a mean- ■ inglcss form of words, these bodies also are prepared to uphold the pol- | icy for which the Allies stand, and \ which M. Mii/JUKOFF has ably advocated. To carry this policy fully into , effect in Russia may be a task of ( immense difficulty; but existing in- ■ dications, notwithstanding M. , Mii.iukoff's retirement, are that j the reconstructed Cabinet will make an honest effort in this direction.