RUSSIA'S JEWISH PEOPLE 81 



man of influence; in fact, one of the most promising 

 statesmen Russia ever produced. In speaking with 

 friends here he said that today one does not talk of 

 the " necessity" of giving the Jew equal rights, but of 

 the "desirability.' 



In other words, he maintained that the day had 

 come when Russia was beginning to recognize the 

 importance of the Jew as a vital part of her national 

 life. The reason, he argued, was that the Jew shows 

 himself of real value to Russia in commercial life and 

 is a factor to be reckoned with in the future if Russia 

 is to develop the best that is in her. With him stands 

 Gourko, a forceful leader in the Council of Empire 

 and an assistant minister. 



These leaders are unafraid to compromise their 

 political success by putting the Jewish question on the 

 basis of a complete settlement of equality of rights. 

 That to my mind is a sure indication of the trend of the 

 Jewish problem in Russia. 



A friend, who having been strongly impressed 

 by such presentments against Russia as those of 

 George Kennan, said to me, "You know there is 

 a Darkest Russia as well as a Darkest England, 

 and the favouring circumstances under which you 

 visited the country gave you little opportunity to 

 see the dark side; hence you can paint your picture 

 only in warm, glowing tints." Possibly he is not 

 far astray, but I have aimed to present an unpre- 



