M. Hanotaux is undoubtedly a serious politician, and may fairly
be regarded as one of the alternative Foreign Ministers of France in the event of the Radical Cabinet being over- thrown. It is worth while, therefore, to note the policy he recommends as regards the Russo-Japanese War. His idea is that it may go on for years, exhausting both the combatants, and creating a danger, as it did last week, of the most serious complications in Europe,—complications only pre- vented, he says, by the sang-/void of the British Government. He would, therefore, have all Europe request, or if necessary insist upon, a trace which, now that both nations have proved their courage, would not be dishonourable, during which the two Powers might consider their claims and arrange a com- promise. That would be sensible advice enough if only honour were at stake ; but there are very serious interests besides, and it is about those that it will be so difficult to
reach agreement. The Japanese consider the existence of their Empire at stake, and will not be content unless Russia rolls back from the shores of the Pacific, which Russia, unless beaten, will not do, not so much perhaps from the desire of expansion as from fear that without steady success the autocracy cannot be maintained.
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