RUSSIA OF TO DAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 77, 17 August 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

RUSSIA OF TO DAY

THE NEW NATION. FAVORABLE TO BRITAIN. Some interesting observations on the "Xiw Russia" were made by the Hon. Maurice Baring, at present' the guest of his Excellency Lord Islington, to a Sydney Morning Herald interviewer prior to leaving for Xew Zealand. "Russia is undergoing a. wonderful development socially, politically, commercially, and in a military and naval sense," he said. "But when 1 speak of Russia, I don't wish to say Russia was not always a great nation commercially. During the war with Japan the enormous internal commerce of Russia was carried on just as though there was no military or naval operations at all. But those who lived in Russia in the pre-war days and who have recently been there, as I have, can scarcely recognise the same country.

INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE. •'The dominant feature of Russian life to-day is individual intiative. Industries are starting; schools are being opened; and for political agitation the ordinary Russian does not care two straws. Yes, to-day, in the commercial sense, they are making things hum in Russia. And with the navy, too. They are building a great navy as rapidly as possible. I was with the British delegation which returned the Duma's visit this year. Lord Charles Beresford was with us, and he visited all the naval works and depots in Russia. lam not a naval expert, but, of course, Lord Charles Beresford is. He told me that what the Russians were doing with their navy was really astonishing. He said, "They are accomplishing wonders with their navy. They have learned their lesson from the mistakes of the past, and are looking forward in the future to the establishment of powerful fleets." That is what the distinguished admiral remarked at the close of his very comprehensive inspection.

REORGANISED ARMY. "Not only the navy, but the whole army of Russia, has been reorganised. In saying that, I don't wish to depreciate the array Russia had before the war with Japan. It was then a great army. There was this solid' fact outstanding, that at the time of the conclusion of peace, there were 200,000 Russians under arms, and ready at any moment to take the offensive. I went right through their lines, and saw them. So that even in those days the Russian army was a powerful factor. But today it has been wholly reorganised, and men who arc most competent military authorities assure me it has never been so powerful as it is now.

TONE OF THE PEOPLE. "Another remarkable change has come over Russia. The whole tone of the people towards Great Britain has changed. You know I have travelled all over the Empire of Russia. I was familiar with the country many years ago. As a result of my tour this year I was. enormously impressed. One could hardly have believed it possible that such a change could have taken place. I was in Russia at the time of the maximum hostility towards the English. That was at the beginning of the war. They considered the English were at the back of the Japanese, and I, as an Englishman, was in a very awkward position. But the enthusiasm with which the deputation which went to the Duma was received was indescribable. What a change! It was truly phenomenal. Everywhere we were received with demonstrations of the most marked enthusiasm. Every night tremendous crowds of people cheered us, showing that the reception was not only an official, but a great popular one, 'in which <ithe whole of the people took part. Wherever we went the people received us with demonstrations of the utmost cordiality. lam quite convinced that there is a real national reconciliation between the great peoples of Russia and Great Britain.

ANTI-GERMAN FEELING. "Most Russians to-day wish to be friendly with the English, and, at the same time, are very anti-German. One reason is that they suffer greatly from German competition, that is, in Russia itself. The Germans are a very enterprising people. They are keen commercial competitors, »nd the Russians don't like their influence in the country at all. That is what I might call the personal or selfish point of view. Then there is what you might term the political point of view. Everyone who is at all Liberal in Russia thinks that getting closer to Germany means reaction for them. And. at the same time, they regard English influences us liberal and constitutional. The extreme reactionary element in Russian life is pro-German. It is most significant that the British deputation was welcomed by Russians of all parties. That has great significance in Russia. There were seated at the one. table at our receptions men who had never met in their lives before in the same room, so keenly opposed to each other are the Liberals and Conservatives of Russia.

CZAR'S PERSONALITY. "Nothing could have been more courteous and cordial than the personal reception we received from the Czar.. His Majesty looked in extremely good health. What surprised us most was his remarkable memory in regard to events that did not touch himself personally very closely. For instance, when he was introduced to one member of the deputation, he said, ■Oh. yes. 1 remember your brother well. I saw him twenty years ago on a yacht.' And his Majesty related the circumstances to other members of the deputation. But that was only one incident of many in which the Czar showed his extremely human side, and the interest he takes in everyday events. No; there

is absolutely no aloofness about the Czar. He is just an ordinary everyday sort of man. whose distinguishing eharaeteristic is a charm of personality which draws you to him."

RPJTTSH XAVY. '•.Apropos of the development of Russia, we were in "England and have had a big awakening in regard to the navy. T 'don't think all parties were ever so united in opinion on a strong navy as a national necessity as thev are to-day. In other respects, socially. T don't think we are making much progress in England. The legislation (hat lias been introduced T am afraid will not touch the real social problem. However, that is a matter which time only can determine. Whilst T was mentioning navies T might remark that the fact that you are building an Australian navy, although only starting in a small wav. is certainly attracting attention abroad. It is not a question what it is to-dav. but it is a question of what it will be in flic near future, and that is the fact which interests everybody, no matter in what part of the world they may be,"