AI MINISTER'S VIEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1916, Page 5

AI MINISTER'S VIEWS.

ABSOLUTE TRUST IN BRITAIN. London, Feb. fco. Mr. Harold Rcghie publishes a special interview with M. Sazanoff in the Daily Chronicle. M. SazanoiV thought the war might be. followed by some measure of disarmament. For forty years the Hermans had been preparing for war. They sat on our frontier "with a stone in their bosom," as the Russian proverb said, and had. been waiting to throw the stone. There was no truth whatever in the statement that Russia was dissatisfied with 'Britain's efforts.

"We trust you absolutely," said M. Snzanoff. We know that while England holds the sea Gcrmr.ny cannot win the War. It is my supreme political conviction that England's mastery of the sea is the greatest factor in the war. Our purpose is to destroy the greatest, danger that ever menaced the human race. We shall fight on and not cease fighting until the menace is destroyed. We cannot rest with a victory which will permit the Menace to lift up its head. Our victory must be absolute and we must be free to live without continual war. England, France, and Russia are now responsible for the future of Europe, the future of civilisation, and the fate of the world. The destruction of Prussianism may take a long time, but wo are prepared for that. After the war our recovery will be and 60uml. The longer the war lasts the more complete will be the financial ruin of Germany. Russia feels that with England and the Allies she is fighting a winning fight for the eternal benefit of humanity. We cannot stop, wc cannot withdraw."

M. Sazanoff expressed the deepest admiration for the moral grandeur of Sir Edward Grey, whilst Mr. Lloyd George had become the hero of the Russian nation, ( A SIGNIFICANT UTTERANCE. RUSSIA'S FREE SEA OUTLET. Received Feb. 24, 10.5 p.m. Petrograd, Feb. V. M. Sazonofl' concluded by saying that Russia had not any designs on Sweden, and added significantly, "We must obtain an outlet to a free sea ;r, quite anoiK-r direction."