Fresh light is thrown on the supersession of M. de
Witte by a recent issue of the Copenhagen Politiken. The Danish paper gives a summary of the views on the treatment of Finland expressed by the Russian ex-Minister of Finance in a speech delivered before the Imperial Council in January, 1901. The speech specially referred to the compulsory conscription scheme of General Kuropatkin (the War- Minister) and M. de Plehve (the present Minister of the Interior), but dealt with every aspect of the problem. M. de Witte's chief argu- ment, so we learn from the summary given by the Berlin corre- spondent of the Times, was a plea for the considerate treatment of a country which, unlike any other part of the Czar's dominions, made no demands for financial support upon the Imperial Treasury. He also earnestly recommended the maintenance of an ancient civilisation of which the national Army formed an integral part. It is further stated that his appeal was so effective that the whole of the Imperial Council, including the Grand Dukes, with one exception, voted against the preposed measures. A semi-official statement has since been made in St. Petersburg to the effect that the publication of the speech cannot have been formally authorised by M. de Witte, but in no way impugning the accuracy of the report. In these circumstances, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion arrived at by the German Press, that the publication of this attack on Russian policy in Finland is to be interpreted as a move on the part of M. de Witte against his successful rival.
