Readers of the Times of Monday will find an interesting
picture of Count Witte, based on an article by M. Paul Adam, of the Paris Journal. Count Witte's position, in the opinion of the French publicist, is that of a master who reigns without true freedom. The Conservatives distrust him for having advised the Czar to sign the historic Manifesto of October 30th, while the Liberals denounce him because the liberties then promised have not been granted, because repressive measures are invariably enforced against those who claim them, and because he everywhere instals Governors and officials of auto- cratic opinions. His support of M. Durnovo, the Minister of the Interior, also gives offence, and some do not scruple to accuse him of playing the role of agent-provocateur by in- directly provoking disturbances to afford an excuse for striking a blow calculated to inspire terror, and of appealing to the brutality of the moujiks to thwart the strike of the railway- men. Being thus placed between two volcanoes, Count Witte hesitates to employ any expression that might damage his position at Tsarskod Selo or hasten the determination of a Nihilist executioner. In this context we may note the striking letter sent to the Daily Chronicle of Wednesday by Mr. Nevinson, who on his return to St. Petersburg after two months' absence found all his former friends in prison, the lowest estimate he has beard of the Liberals who are now in gaol being twenty thousand.
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