THE RUSSO-ENGLISH ENTENE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3211, 10 June 1909, Page 7

THE RUSSO-ENGLISH ENTENE.

That co-operation between Great Britain and Russia is not only natural but an inevitable outcome nf present international politics is what the late Sir Rowland Blennerhassett set himself to prove in a posthumous article which appears in the "National Review." In was only in Asia that their real interests might ha<-e seem* td to be antagonistic, but the convention of 1907 has shown that these interests need not clash. By defining their respective spheres, the two Powerd have learnt that they can carry out in harmony their joint work of civilising Asiatic peoples. This has left them free to work together for their common purposes in Europe. Chief among such purposes is the maintenance of the so-called balance of power. Both of them desire to preserve the integrity and independence of certain Small States, the Balkan States (which are threatened by Austria) and the Baltic States —particularly Denmark —which are menaced by Germany. If Denmark, Sir Rowland says: ' 'Those who have followed the history of that little nation, especially since the unfortunate events of 1862, fannot doubt that its existence as an independent State is held by a precarious tenure. The Danes themselves are evidently quite aware of the meacing danger, and are preparing for eventualities. The incorporation of Denmark -into the German Empire would mean the establishment of German supremacy in the Baltic, to the evident detriment of England and Rusisa. Like all other things in politics, the idea of Germany supremacy in the Baltic is a growth of time. It has not been invented by the present generation of Germans, and may be even disagreeable to men ot position in the counsels ot the Kaiser. In the early sixties the late Mr Crowe, one of the most distinguished servants of the Crown in the reign of Queen Victoria, stated his conviction that the animosity against Ureat Britain which prevailed in Germany at that time was due to German views regarding the Baltic Sea. This feeling of hospitality found vulgar expression in the public press. The position of Denmark is therefore sure in time to come to drive England and Rusisa to an intimate understanding."