The death took place last Saturday of Count Witte, the
Russian statesman whose name became famous in connexion with the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo- Japanese War. An almost self-made man, he rose to be Minister of Finance when be was only forty-four. Although not a diplomatist, he surprised the world by the satisfactory terms he obtained for Russia at Portsmouth, U.S.A. lie succeeded where trained diplomatists had refused even to attempt the task. He then became the first Prime Minister of Russia, and was part-author of the Peterhof Manifesto of 1905 which embodies the gift of constitutional liberties to Russia. It seemed than that he would direct the fortunes of his country for many years to come. But he became the victim of his own ambition, egotism, ■nd excessive self. confidence. He was an opportunist and an intriguer. He created the spirit monopoly, but denounced it when denuncia- tion served his purpose. He was a believer in the star of Germany. and he tried to engineer Russia out of the Triple Entente. So far as his opinions on this subject were known. they brought him only discredit at the end of his life.
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