SIR GEORGE BUCHANAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1918, Page 2

SIR GEORGE BUCHANAN.

icLuyuii.N't' 'l'lujurnc PROM PROCESSOR 'PARKS. HIS WARNING TO THE TSAR. London, Jmi. 12. Ail eloqucst tribute to Sir George nutiiiinaii and his successful work in Russia was paid yesterday by Professor Pares in the following interview with a vepresentative of The Observer. Professor Pares shows what a real asset England had in 'Petrograd in tlie person of the Ambassador who is now coming home on leave. "The departure of Sir George Buchanan from Petrograd,'' he began by saying, "closes one of the most remarkable epochs of British statesmanship. When Sir George went to the Embassy, in which liis father had earlier preceded him, lie had already served ill all parts of Europe, and his work in Sofia had brought him into close touch, with the problems of Eastern Europe. At Petrograd he followed -one of the .most distinguished of English diplomatists, Sir 'irthur Nieolson, and found,already well on its way the work initiated by Si>' Charles Hardinge, and continued by Sil' Arthur—that of laying a firm foundation for a friendship between the Eng. '.'sh and Russian peoples. "The constitution of the Russian Duma had given a clearer voice than ever before to the Russian people, and it had declared itself in the most decisive way for friendship with England. Indeed, shortly before the war, a reactionary member of the Duma was called to order by the President for a disparaging remark about England, which, as he was 'told from the chair, offended the feelings of the whole House. "With what success Sir George conducted this work can only be appreciated by those Englishmen like myself who have served in Russia and know the real affection and absolute trust with which he eame to be regarded by all Russians. Once when other , foreign diplomatists were being discussed and I mentioned our Ambassador I was stopped with the words, 'But Buchanan is one of the great figures of Russian history."

AT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR. "In the first few days of the war, before England liad entered it, the Embassy was surrounded by anxious crowds asking what we should do, and- Sir George cp.me out more than once and assured thera of his personal sympathy. And of this he has .again and again- reminded his hearers in speeches which he has made since the revolution'defending England from the absurd charge of having initiated the wai\ "His own attitude was never in question, and he made it clear enough to the German Ambassador, Count Rourtalea, 'when. Germany was awaiting the answer 1o her ultimatum, by putting bftth hands on bis shoulder and saying to him; 'Russia means it.' "Sir George' and Lady Georgina Buchanan both threw themselves in the most whole-hearted manner into ail sorts of various war work for Russia. Lady Georgina, who is quite indefatigable, at one time was controlling as many as uinn different organisations started by British funds for the assistance of the Russian Red Cross. "When the easier period of goodwill •mcTcongratulations between the Allies began to give way to ono of the gravesf- internal difficuities, Sir George a,t the very outset defined his own position toward the Russian people in a speech of which the boldness and the broad liberal spirit would hardly at that time have found imitators even in the Russian pub'ic. "From that position he never retreated and after the revolution, in order to justify himself against . the Germanw'fttle charge that lis was_a friend of the ild regime, he had not to do anything more than quote the words which lie had said under it.

THE LAST DAYS OF AUTOCRACY. " Among the many warnings which the ex-Emperor received from public men, old and tried servants and members of his family, none was more direct or better received than the plain words of Sir George, ' some time before the revolution: — "When I see someone whom X like going over 'a. precipice I feel I must warn him. There is no way left but to make peace with the Russian people." "If, as we all expected, the nutoiTacy had been succeeded by those public men who for the preceding ' ten years had been before the Russian public and had its confidence as a whole, Sir George's new task would indeed have been easy, for every one of the members of the first Provisional Government, though of various parties, was a convinced friend of England. Sir George was ready for the new situation, for his honesty and boldness liad put him right with it in adv.wc, and he showed a wonderful quickness and simplicity in his welcome to those of the new men, such as Kerensky, vhorn he had not previously known. • "With Kerensky there existed for him i personal relation of confidence from the first, and one could not have seen anything more unlike the stereotyped idea of tho diplomat. Once Kerensky came with boyish triumph to say: 'I have had. three victories river the old diplomacy,' and named three changes ho had made in diplomatic posts. 'lf you would liko a fourth,' laughed Sir George, 'you shall have my resignation to-mor-row.' REVOLUTION DANGERS. "Harder times were in store, and for Ma 'iy days the Embassy was one of thi noinis of greatest danger in Petrograd. During the rising of .Tuly 1G and 20 at one point it seemed probable that the suns of the fortress of S.S. Peter and Paul might be turned on the Embassy, and the troops of the Provisional Oovernipent were preparing to advance from under its cover in order to capture the headquarters of the Bolshviks, which stood only on the other side of Hie bridge over the Neva. The Foreign Minister, M. Tereshchenko, who had a personal solicitude for the Ambassador, invited him to quarters which he had prepared in the Foreign. Office. Sir George replied: 'My wife and daughter snv they won't come; tliev want to see » " ■ "The effect of this firm and cool attitude was a real asset to England at a time when the Whole social system seemed to be crumbling. England stood firm, in the person of Sir George Buchanan. And that will be remembered in Russia long after the Russian revolution " FOREIGN OFFICE THANKS. The following tplejjram has been sent | l.y the Secretary of State for Foreign

Affairs to Sir George Buchanan at Potrosrad:— I am very sorry to learn tl jjj health .is -still as unsatisfactoif: The War Cabinet desires me to express toj you;their warmest thaiiks for all the, eminent services you have rendered, to' your country. They hope that by a much-needed rest your health may sooji be restored and that you may long be spared to continue your career of public usefulness. May I be permitted to urge my cordial acknowledgment for all that you have done for us. If I may be permitted to say so, your courage, resource, and' character have been an inspi to lis all, and you have Worthil *< qgp» held the great tradition and ide.— -- voUr country.—Foreign Office; January 5.