RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 71, 19 December 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

Oun St. Petersburg Correspondent forwards a .statement by M. Notoviteli, the editor of the Xorosti, of his views with regard to the relations betweeu Russia and Great l.ritain. M. Notoviteli hold:; that there i.s no s.rious misunderstanding between the two nations on the ground of national interests, and no really hostile, feeling between the two peoples. Sneh manifestation-; of ill-will as have roo.mtly taken place ho ascribes to the secret action an 1 the insincerity of ollicud diplomacy, which mislead many journalists. 'Every educated Russian," he says, '• thoroughly appreciates the brilliant history of the Hritish people, their high standard of culture, their extraordinary capacity for eoloniz.ition and their glorious victories in the past on behalf of progress and humanity. None of us doubt that in this Armenian question England i.s holding aloft the banner of humanity ; and Russia, as a liberator of people, would certainly be with her in the combination proposed if international diplomacy were characterized by decision, sincerity, and, ahova all, by frankness. We can'all be certain that the Russians, French, and Ceriums, as well as the English, would consider it then- sacred duty to intervene with energetic action in defence of the Turkish Cinistims if the confusion of ideas produced 1-y secret diplomacy did not hold them back. Journalists, "both here and abroad, seldom look at events in opposition to the view of diplomacy As tar ai lain acquainted with public opinion in Russia, i believe that if English diplomacy would speak out with "the same frankness ami sincerity that .Mr Gladstone spoke -though, unfortunately, too late—in his recent letter published in Pari?, many prejudices and doubts would fall away, and 1 feel convinced that such sincerity and frankness on the part oi English diplomacy would be doubly responded to by the diplomacy of Rus-U." Our Correspondent also had an intervie iv with the editor of the Xovo> V, ,■„,,/„ t but was unable to obtain anything more explicit from him than what appeirs -o often in the anti-English articles of his paper. Apparently, that paper ti ids it necessary always to attack something or .somebody, ami as England is the only Power whose unreadiness to fall in with Russia's views in regard to the Armenian question is supposed lie have caused some irritation, Englishmen arc the onlynation just now left to attack.—The Tinus.