Trust Russia i8i 



the Tsar, were at the supreme command of the Army, 

 were in the diplomatic and other services to such an extent 

 that the masses, over 70 per cent, of whom are ilHterate, 

 when the " heavens fell al)Out their ears," thouf^ht that no 

 one could any longer be trusted, once he held rank and 

 position above their own. To-day, therefore, it goes with- 

 out saying that the mass of the Western Russians, at least, 

 have lost faith in every one and know not where to turn 

 for guidance and help. Like a beautiful horse which, after 

 having been ill used, hit on its nose and about the head 

 by its own master, suddenly finds itself loose, the Russians 

 at the moment are unwilling to approach anyone. Try to 

 treat with them and they show their heels, having found 

 that kicking out vigorously, right and left, has so far been 

 the only sure way of keeping themselves free from oppres- 

 sion and ill-treatment. 



The problem now to be solved is to find out how to win 

 back the confidence of Russia, and to teach her people 

 to trust first their own leaders and then their Allies. 

 Meanwhile, whilst this is being done, wily Germans, as 

 dangerous if not as clever and successful as Rasputin 

 was, abound everywhere, holding the thong and the halter 

 beliind their backs, and advancing with corn and sugar in 

 their other hands. This being so, who can blame, or be 

 surprised at the half-star\ed Russians if, seeing no one else 

 at the moment able or willing to help them, they take the 

 sugar and nibble the corn, without noticing the danger 

 lurking beliind these gifts. 



But cannot we also do as well and better than Germany ? 

 Cannot the British public be induced to remember that 

 Russia, like the horse, has become what she is through 

 constant ill-usage and oppression ; that if she shows her 

 teeth and her heels, it is only from nervousness and not 

 through vice. So long as this is so, and so long as we, in 

 our turn, can maintain the belief that the heart of Russia 

 beats true, we must and will succeed in the end in showing 

 her who it is that has been the true cause of all her misery 

 in the past, and who is most likely to help her help herself 

 in the future. 



Since writing the above I came across a short notice in 

 the Evening Standiu'd of March 8 of Mr. R. Wilton's book, 

 " Russia's Agony," in which it is rightly claimed that this 

 experienced authority, writing out of the fulness of his 

 many years of personal and intimate knowledge of that 

 country, still bids us to be hopeful as to its future. Her 

 agony is not the agony of death but of " a Hving, breathing 



