5 SEPTEMBER 1998, Page 25

Russia not ready

Sir: At a dinner, the Duchess of Marlbor- ough asked the Tsar why he did not give the Russian people the democratic govern- ment which was so successful in England. He replied, 'There is nothing I would like better, but Russia is not ready for demo- cratic government. We are 200 years behind Europe in the development of our national political institutions. Russia is still more Asiatic than European and must therefore be governed by autocratic gov- ernment.' It might be wise for the world leaders to accept this idea and work with an autocratic Russian government instead of opposing it.

D. Le P. Webb

Hayden Farm, Rodley, Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire