The papers of last Saturday announced the conclusion of a
Naval Convention between France and Russia. The import- ance of this is to be found as much in the occasion of making it public as in its essence. A Military Convention has existed for many years between France and Russia, and a Naval Convention is the logical sequel to it. No doubt it would have been drawn up long before this if Russia had not been beguiled by the entrancing but fatal phantoms of the Far East. Now the Russo-Japanese War is so far forgotten that the two antagonists are almost as good as allies, and Russia has resolved to turn her attention to rebuilding her Navy, not for remote enterprises, but as the guardian of her gates at home. Co- operation with France is right and necessary from every point of view, and to predser the nature of the co-operation is an obvious convenience. The announcement at a moment when the French Prime Minister had not yet arrived in Russia for his promised visit proved that a Naval Convention was outside the range of questions which still required careful considera- tion.
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