(Translation from “Retch,” No. 231, August 23
(September 5), 1915)
Baron Rosen began with the statement that while the question of
supplies for the army and navy was paramount, there was nevertheless
another side to it, and that was the question of the domestic policy
of the Empire. He reminded his hearers that in May, 1913, he had
warned the Council of the Empire of the catastrophe imminent in Europe,
but that his statement had been met with ridicule and skepticism.
The result of such an attitude is now obvious to all. In this great
conflict, it has become clear that neither side will be able to
crush the other, as was expected at the outset of this war. But even
as it is, this war of extermination of the white race must, in the
end, be decided in favor of one of the two parties at conflict. He
thought that certain intangible elements entering into the question
would be of great importance in the settlement of this war. Putting
aside the political, economic and psychological questions that led to
this conflict, he thought that the ultimate issue was the decision
of the world to battle against the dictum of Germany that “might is
greater than right and right is created only by might.” Under the
circumstances, it would seem that the sympathies of the entire world
should be on the side of the allies. But in reality this is not the
case; and for this there are several reasons.
“It is undoubtedly within our power to do away with one of the factors
militating against us in the public opinion of neutral countries.
In the struggle that we, together with the most civilized nations
of Europe, are waging against the Pan-Germanism, imperialism and
absolutism, and for right and justice, for the liberty and independence
of the weaker nations, =we shall achieve the full sympathy of the
civilized world only when we shall have put our inner front—if I may
use that expression—on a level with the political ideology of our
valiant allies;= for instance, in the conduct of our polity with
reference to the borderlands, and the so-called alien races composing
its population.”
After stating that there were two diametrically opposed political
systems, one current among the Allies and the other among the Germans,
Baron Rosen continued:
“To the maximum injury of the true interests of Russia, we have adopted
and have carried out unswervingly the true German system of politics
with reference to our borderlands and the so-called foreign races and
foreign faiths, a policy which has been made even more perfect by the
admixture of medieval religious intolerance.
“It may be retorted that the fate of a campaign is decided by military
power and not by the greater or lesser sympathy of neutral countries
for the policy of a given state. The German Government does not think
so; for otherwise it would not spend countless millions for pan-German
propaganda in all the countries of the world, even the most remote.
But we, on the other hand, not only fail to oppose anything to this
propaganda, but by the course of our domestic policies we place in the
hands of this propaganda powerful arguments for arousing against us
public opinion of such countries as the United States, the only great
neutral power, and of Sweden, our neighbor.
=“It is inconceivable that the framers of our policy should fail to
realize that the propaganda directed against us, conducted under
official auspices and equipped with the amplest resources, will
scarcely cause our own interests and the interests of our Allies
one-tenth of the harm which is caused to these interests by our
attitude towards the Jewish population of Russia and our systematic
violation of the legal conscience of the Finnish population—an attitude
which smacks of the dark times of medievalism.=
“The question now is, why did not the Government find it possible to
put an end to this problem decisively and forever, as it has finally,
and, alas, with such delay, settled the question of the autonomy of
Poland? This may be explained only by the fact that the Government
hesitated to break with the traditional policy so dear to the militant
nationalism.
“Accordingly the Duma and the Council are in duty bound to come to
the aid of the Government in this regard and take upon themselves
the initiative of introducing a bill for the abolition of all laws
restricting the rights of the Jews and for the abrogation of the law of
July 17 (30) concerning Finland. The passage of these measures would
undoubtedly lighten the heavy task now confronting the Government
in the sphere of international relations and it would be met by our
valiant allies with the liveliest satisfaction.
=“We must remember that this great European war is not only a struggle
of interests, but is also a struggle of ideas and principles. In the
battle against German militarism, Russia has placed herself on the side
of right and freedom, and for the triumph of the idea for which we are
now fighting, it is necessary that in Russia, too, there should be
no longer any people without rights or any people oppressed.”=