The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 18. THE CZAR'S VISIT TO ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 120, 18 June 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 18. THE CZAR'S VISIT TO ENGLAND.

Whatever may be the ethics of international courtesy, or the sincerity of personal friendship existing between tile Czar of Russia and King Edward, there is no doubt that Nicholas 11. is 110 popu. lar ligure in England, and the feeling is such as puts a grave responsibility on the British Government in conniving iat the forthcoming visit, llecant English files show that at the mere rumor j of his intended visit to England protests were raised in various quarievs'. both in the Press and in private circle* uttered by persons of generally very moderate views, but having purely human interests and the honor of England dee-ply at heart. In an editorial article characterised by moderation and logical soundness of argument, the London • Daily Xews expressed the popular Brit- : ish view in the following terms:—"We ; should wish the country to extend whole-hearted hospitality to the representative of every other {State whose friendship might further the cause, of peace and freedom, Jn this case, however, no honor or welcome that Britain can show the Czar .will advance that cause in the least. Bather it will encourage thy supporters of violence and despotism throughout the world. The character of the Char's rule in his land cannot be forgotten. We reeogI nisu thai at one time he had perceptions 1 of 'better things, but we cannot forget that Sunday wjien the workmen and peasants appealed to him as their father and he lied, leaving them to be shot pitilessly in the streets.- We cannot forget that since, under the terror oi the general strike, he published the famous manifesto of constitutional liberties, he has gone back on all the Qiroibises to which he then solemnly pledged himself. We cannot forget his open encouragement of the Biack Hundred, who openly organise massacres in his name, and whose badge he publicly j wears, Xor can we l'orget the devastation of the Caucasus' and the Baltic Provinces by his orders, and the ready pardon he has always 'extended to the persecutors and torturers of his .people. (Since he has delinitely turned aside ! from the path of reform to the lines of i renewed and intensified despotism the 1 advocates of freedom in Hussia have , suffered a repression more \iolent and bloodthirsty than they have ever suf- * fered before even in that, hag-ridden ► land of tyranny. Time would fail us * to tell oi the hideous ajul increasing ► series of political executions, of the ' torture and outrage of women, of the ; starving exiles in the bitter North, of ► the prison* overcrowded with untried <, captives, and of the long trains' that * bear away to x th© oblivion of Siberia ► thousands on thousands of the best in- ► telleets among the men and women of J the country." It may be said that these ► are no concerns of ours, but such ► a contention the Xeiws utterly denies. [ These things are the concern of all ► humanity, and if it is impossible for I Britain as a nation to interfere, as she ► once interfered in the abominations of y Xa|)les, she can at least refuse to do t more than common diplomatic courtesy J requires. The people can refuse to show ► the smallest sign of popular welcome jr [ rejoicing when the man in -whose name J these thing* are being done approaches i the country. Of al'l the ruler* in the j world, he has shown himself the worst ► enemy of freedom; "nor/' says the ► Xews, '"with regard to our own police. J cau we say that our unhappy under- ► standing with him has done anything ► fur the cause of peace. If hi* sudden J and complete surrender to Austria upon ► her breach of the Treaty of Berlin se- [ cured peace in Europe for the .time) his ► action 'was due to Germany's pressuie t and not'at all to agreement with ua. I The opinion of this country was not ► wen consulted. Towards, the-iiussian ► people Britishers have no feeling but J admiration and friendship. His because ► their ruler is so utterly at variance with ► #ll that is best and most promising in J that great country that regret can be expressed at his forthcoming visit to a people who enjoy that .priceless freedom _ that his ml,, outrages. Then- ; ,re those I in England who openly advocate showing the nation's resentment. Sir Edmund Verney recently said: "When a worthy sovereign or statesman visits, England, he is welcomed, not merely ' ofhnall v. but popularly and spoil- ! tanoously by the, nation, and this is | the welcome he values most. Should j an unworthy visitor come to our shores ,il c< ' n> monial visit, are we not equally at liberty to express our feelI ings Xow, (lie Czar is simply execrated by all who know tin* horrible cruelties J of his rule, and we w.ho do know not only may, but ought, to make a public demonstration of our horror." Such | publiely-expres'sed opinions -surely show that in the present temper of the people at Home the Czar's visit is not likely to further tile cause of international good feeling. Whether or not the Czar may he made aware of his unpopularity in England depends largely on the character of the visit, whether it will be an official one with :i reception in London, ° r J' purely personal visit to the King, to take place on the Czar's yaclit in British waters. Jn the latter casc,*aay& theuVnglo-liussian, the Czar may as well be left alone: otherwise it would not be dillicult at all to organise hostile demonstrations during the Czar's procession through London street*. In view of the nature of Hie questions' asked in Parliament, the attitude of the Socialists and Labor, and especially of the extreme bitterness of Russian refugees in England—and they are only too numerous, anil many, also, too desperate—the British Covcrninent- is taking upon itself a grave responsibility if it really intend- r - - the Czar any cordiality of wei. .....ch cannot and does not exist in the heaiU of the , nation.

| ON THE FOUttTH PAGE. Football. Commercial, Ileal tallies. Farm and Dairy. J } arliamentar y No.tes. Waitara. West .Road Board.