The Progress of the World. 



119 



labour for a better understanding between the two 

 nations. Long may it flourish, and may it Ijring 

 forth a plentiful progeny of similar clubs both in 

 Germany and in Britain ! 



'i'he attitude of some English 



A Radicals with regard to this visit 



Ridiculous Radical , , , 



Rump. seems to be the very acme of 



absurdity. As long as Russia was 



One of the most satisfactory inci- ■< a despotism without even a semblance of Constitu- 



The Friendship dents last month was the visit paid 

 witti Russia. ijy a deputation of some thirty 

 notable and representative English- 

 men, both lay and clerical, parliamentary and other- 

 wise, to Russia. It is the return visit, on an enlarged 

 scale, to that which was paid by the members of the 

 Russian Duma 10 London last year. The visitors 

 were to be headed by the Speaker of the House of 

 Commons, but before the deputation had reached 

 Berlin Mr. Lowther was unfortunately summoned 

 back by the news of the death of his • 

 father. Lord Hugh Cecil and Lord 

 Charles Beresford are the most notable 

 Parliamentarians who took part in this 

 excursion ; but both Ministerialists and 

 Unionists were well represented, as also 

 were the Church, the Army and Journal- 

 ism. There was a little unfortunate mis- 

 understanding as to the issue of the 

 invitations, which apjxiar to have been 

 arranged by Mr. 15. Pares in this country, 

 and M. Zvegintseff in Russia. Sir 

 Mackenzie Walbce, Lord Weardale and 

 Lord Sanderson signed the invitations, 

 which were sent out by the Speaker. 

 It was understood that the Russians were 

 very an.xious that the Deputation should 

 be thoroughly rciiresentative and should 

 not be in any way political. Everything 

 has been done in Russia to give a warm 

 and hearty welcome to the representatives 

 of Great Britain. Their stay at Moscow and St. i'clers- 

 burg was crowded with receptions, banquets and excur- 

 sions. The Bishops of the Greek Orthodox Church 

 were delighted to welcome their .Anglican brethren, 

 and the presence of Mr. Birkbeck lent some colour 

 to the suggestion that they might witness the revival 

 of thi; movement for the reunion of the Greek 

 Orthodox and .Anglican Churches ; which is a fine 

 dream , but one of those dreams which do no harm 

 to the dreamers. The Labour Party and the Poles 

 refused to take part in the welcome extended to the 

 British visitors, but there are some people who 

 delight to (I'.iy Hi'' part of the mummy at every 

 Egyptian feast. 



tion, with no representative Assembly of any kind, the 

 Daily NiU's, following the lead of Mr. Gladstone, Mr. 

 Bright, and all the great Liberal leaders of .the past 

 generation, worked in season and out of season for a 

 rapprochement with Russia. Anglo-Russian friendship 

 was one of the watchwords of the Liberal Parly. Now 

 that Russia has modified her despotism, established 

 her Duma, and entered into the Anglo-Russian 

 Agreement, these inconsequent politicians do every- 

 thing they possibly can to inflame the relations 



Mr. T. M. C. Asser. Herr A. H. Fried. 



Between whom the Nobel Peace Prize was divided this year. 



between the two countries. They are not pleased 

 with the Anglo-Russian policy in Persia, therefore 

 they are doing their level best (or worst) to set up a 

 row between England and Russia, entirely regardless 

 of the fact that upon good relations between these two 

 Empires the peace of Asia depends. These gentry 

 seem to forget that there are many things in our policy 

 which are just as much disliked by Russians as 

 we dislike things in Russia's (xilicy. When we 

 enter into a working agreement with a nation we 

 do not give them a certificate for thf (>ossession of 

 all the virtues; wo only recognise that with all their 

 shortcomings it is better to be friends than to be 

 enemies, especially as by being enemies we would 

 accentuate every fault that we most dislike. The 

 Daily Navs and its friends are all at present in favour 



