Shanghai. Sept. 19, Last week we made' a general remark to the effect that Moscow will try to avoid being drawn into the present European war, as in the past' major wars have often been followed by' major political and social upheavals. Such is our opinion, based on observations and reflections on the courses of Russian history. To make a general remark one thing; 10 dig deep into details of historical processes is" quite another. After what they have lived through during the Revolution and the Civil War, Russians are as men with skins peeled to the flesh. and even facts of a distant past can prick them and leave painful wounds. Bul Mr. M. P. Kocherjinsky once again throws' up -his glove of challenge, in his letter published on September 11. Te would "have been' far better to have met Mr. Kocherjinsky personally"and to have. discussed Russian story face to face, instead of stir~ ing the past and baring facts which many would rather, if not forget. then hot be foreed to remember. Bul Mr, Kecherjinsky Is explicit in his demand for facts, and in order that he and others be spared the mpression that his glove has been ignored, we are presenting several facts, as Wo understand and construe them. We "would, however, make the reminder that Russia's history, ike the history of all great nations. contains not only different theories, but also facts verified by some eminent historians and disclaimed by others whose claim to eminence {sno less authoritative, The Great War of 1914-1918 ended in Russia with a. great revolution, trid those who started the war were not in power to sign its peace, In the opinion of the overwhelming majority of observers it was this war that gave rise to the revolution. The war against Japan in 1904-5 was also Followed by a revolution, the s0- called First. Russian Revolutior took three years to stamp out, during that time Ministers, Governor~ Generals, Governors Military "Districts were assassinated, In answer to which terror, the Imperial Government applied' pressure fought with Turkey. The war was popular among the cultured classes, who were fred Russian Constantinople, but, at the ares in Berlin, Lord Beacons all Russians sill think today—took away from Russia, th at. her Victories Inthe Balkans. At any Fate this war spurred the revolutionary' movement inthe country, and. on "March 1, 1811, Emperor Alexander 11 himself, an honourable and. humane ruler whose abolition serfdom in Russia earned him a title In history as the Tsar Libera~ for, fell as its victim.
Wars' Tragic Endings The Crimean War ended trogically for Emperor Nicholas 1, The rout of Russian arms hada fatal effect fu the proud nature of the Tsar, and he died of the emotional strain caused by the war and the humiliations he suffered as its result, We will not cite the information given. by Certain" memoirists and historians (okrovsky, Rojkont, "ete. on the circumstances of, his death; suilce {t'to say that the next man to. wear {he crown changed the internal policy and instituted -& sort of revolution from the top.
The war with Napoleon was exceptionally favourable one Russia, Russia reached the zenith of her power in Europe, and Emperor Alexander 1 became ah arbiter in the quarrels between nations. But inside the country it gave rise to a political movement. that enveloped not only the heights of society but the army as. well, but demanded reforms. and Constitution. The results were the Hoting on the Palace Square in 1825: the famed revolt of the Decembrists was already rundown and a very sick man, and he died in 1605 unable to weather the struggle waged against him by the nobility, which had United outside forces' against the throne of Muscovy.
Will Russia Fight?
Tsar Ivan the Terrible was one of the greatest rulers of Russia. At the autumn of his life he saw the failure of all for which he had fought for 25 years. Like Boris Godounov, Ivan IV waged a merciless ght against treachery from within which nested among. the boyars; to that end he formed his dreaded oprichina, In 1862 ended on unfavourable war with Poland; in 1883 another one with the Tsar's treasury was. by now empty; in 1584 he died in deep disappointment.
Lack of space forbids us from citing further facts. Let us only mention the story of Prince Sviato-Slav. "After his" eanpaign in the Balkans in 971 he made peace with the Byzantine Emperor and moved towards Kiev, his capital, but was forced to winter at the mouth of the Daiepr, being subjected with his army to the ravages of a terrible famine. He counted on reinforcements from Kev but these did not arrive, and hho was routed by the hordes of Pechenegy. Kiev was outside the rule of Sviatoslay; his own government had betrayed him. "Space again doesn't allow us to dwell further on this episode.
it is Important to note, however, that from this example of the 10th century, and from examples of the 8th and 20th centuries, one can. con-chude that If not always, wars in the history of Russia often' have given birth to widespread inner changes: political or social coup d'etat or re~ forms so drastic in character that they completely changed the face of the government. Whether the pre: sent rulers of Russia are willing to take that risk by entering the present war in Europe Is a question. Such fare the facts, of, rather, the expound-Ing of facts, which gave us the right make a" general remark on the link' between social and - political changes. in Russia and wars waged by the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.