Last Saturday's papers contain a report of a statement made
on the previous day in the Duma by M. Isvolsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs. After laying great stress on the value of the Auglo-Russian Agreement in preventing complications in Persia, the Foreign Minister, though he was careful to use no provocative language about Austria- Hungary, and though he acknowledged the binding force of certain secret Agreements between Russia and the Empire of the Hapsburgs, warmly endorsed the idea of a political and economic union of the Slav States with Turkey. As to the Conference, the majority of the Powers were agreed to that course, and Turkey, as the principal sufferer, bad proposed it. A Conference, be declared, was essential in order to apply the axiom that International Agreements could not be broken without the consent of all parties. The majority of the Powers held this view, though it did not imply any unfriendliness towards Austria-Hungary. Since the inception of the crisis Russia had acted not only with her ally France, but also with England and Italy. The speech ended with the declaration that Russian public opinion agreed with the Government in extending warm sympathy ,to the Serviane and Montenegrins, at the same time appealing to their discretion, and urging the necessity of preserving tranquillity.
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