LOth October, Possisty never. before in the history of the two countries have the relations between Germany and Russia been more interesting to outside nations than they are the present moment. Reuter has told us of the proposal that an agreement should be Japanese Alliance, and we have far. negotiated to counteract the Anglo-
ther learnt that there is a strong party in Russia which favours a rapprochement with England rather than an understanding with Ger! many. It will therefore, be interesting to watch the development of the struggle between the pro-German and the pro-British parties, although it is always possible that Russia will content herself with remaining friendly with both and attached to neither. Meanwhile a glance back over the relations between Russia and her next door neighbour during the past decade or we will probably throw light upon the position at the moment.
A French writer in the "Correspondent" of March last published an article on the subject of Germany, Russia, and the Far East in which he says that keen as Russia'was to note signs of British "perfidy " in the Far Enst, she was not so quick to see through the game that was being played on her behalf by Germany. Bismarck is reported to have said to his friends in St. Petersburg, " Russia has nothing to do with the West: her mission is in Asia, for there she represents civilisation. And actin; on this principle he did all he coul to entangle the Czar in the meshes of the Eastern net while keeping him carefully shut out from participation in western affairs, notably in Turkey. Mr. Chéralame, the writer of the article in question, goes back to the time when Mr. de Brandt was German Minister at Peking and quotes from political correspondence thus:—"Not only did Mr, de Brandt advise all the Christian Powers to agree simultaneously, to crush China and each seize what was most expedient, but he endeavoured to push matters to the worst by exalting the advantages of a war between Russia and China, My recent. conversations with my colleague, Mr. de Brandt, confirm me in the idea that encouragement to carry out such a strange hey must have been given by the bluet of Berlin to. that of St, Peters burg. As soon as the war should have broken out, Mr. de Brandt made no mystery of the intention of his government io lay hands on any well,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.