Mr. St. Loe Strachey, who was one of the original
signa- tories of the Address to the Duma, forwarded the follow- ing letter to Mr. MacCullum Scott, the secretary of the deputation, withdrawing his name from the Address. Mr. Strachey's letter was sent before the decision to abandon the deputation :—
"DEAR desire to withdraw my name from the Address to the Russian Duma. My reasons for doing so are as follows. I hold that the wording of that Address was unexceptional, and could very properly be signed by any friend of Russia and of liberal institutions without interference in the internal affairs of a foreign country. Circumstances, however, have arisen which, to my mind, make it most objectionable that a deputation from this country should at the present moment visit Russia and present the Address in person. It is abundantly clear from the telegrams from St. Petersburg and Moscow which have been published in the Press that the presence of the deputation in Russia would have an extremely bad effect at this moment, and would do harm rather than good to the cause of free institutions, and of a good understanding between Russia and Britain, which I have deeply at heart, and for the sake of which I originally signed the Address. Information roaches me, from sources which leave mo in no doubt as to its authenticity, that many of the best friends of liberty in Russia and of good feeling between the two nations view with the utmost alarm and distrust the presence of the deputation in Russia. In these circumstances, I feel that I have no option but to withdraw my name from the Address. Before I conclude, I must again assure you that my action is in no way dictated by any change of opinion in regard to my desire for the establishment of liberal institutions in Russia. It is my earnest wish to do nothing to impair the growth of such institutions that has dictated my action. I sincerely trust that tho reasons which I have here given may be carefully considered by the deputation before their final deter- mination to leave this country for Russia.—I am, yours faithfully,
