Sir George Buchanan, our former Ambassador at Petrograd, speaking on
" New Russia " at the dinner of the British Russia Club on Friday week, gave an interesting and authoritative estimate of the character of the late Tsar, clearing his memory, finally let us hope, of the imputation that he had even contemplated a separate peace with Germany. It was offered him in the summer of 1916, and categorically refused. Nicholas H. was an autocrat by tradition, not by temperament or from deliberate choice. He was not false by nature, in Sir George Buchanan's opinion ; but his obstinate belief that it was his first duty to maintain the power of Tsardom unimpaired made him unmindful of his promised reforms ; and his regime fell " self-condemned through its innate weakness and incapacity." At present Russia is non-existent as a political entity : she " is crying aloud for help, and we must respond to her call." If we do not help Russia out of her political chaos and material ruin, then, in Sir George Buchanan's view, Germany will recoup herself in the East for what she must sur- render in the West. But Russia " must be prepared to help herself " ; and that is the crux of a problem gravely complicated by recent outrages.
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