Russia's Foreign Relations During the Last Half Century

THE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS PUBLICATIONS, WILLIAMS COLLEGE, WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. RUSSIAS FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING THE LAST HALF CENTURY RUSSIAS FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING THE LAST HALF CENTURY BY BABON S. A. KORFF, D. C. L. Professor of Political Science, School of Foreign Service, Georffe town University Washington J. C. Sometime Professor of Russian Law and History, University of Finland, and Womens University of Petrograd, Russia, gotft THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1922 All rights It is with some hesitation that I gave my con sent to the publication of these lectures. It is extremely difficult to handle such a vast subject in so short a space, and consequently some of the questions did not receive the attention they de serve. However, the other courses, given at the Institute of Politics, will help considerably to elucidate various doubtful problems. I take this opportunity to express my feelings of deep gratitude to President H. A. Garfield and the Institute of Politics for their great kind ness and hospitality. S. A. K. August 25, 1921. Williamstown, Massachusetts. Cmr MO. PUBLIC o f CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I FEANCB 1 II ENGLAND 27 III CHINA 54 IV JAPAN 75 V AlJSTBIA-HUNGARY 93 VI THE BALKAN STATES 114 VII GERMANY 145 VIII SWEDEN 171 IX SOME ITEMS 184 X SECBET DIPLOMACY 190 RUSSIAS FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING THE LAST HALF CENTURY RUSSIAS FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING LAST HALF CENTURY CHAPTER I. FRANCE. I. I BEGAN-the preparation of my lectures for the Insti tute of Politics with some apprehension. In the first place I felt that we were too far from the most val uable sources of information, namely the European archives of the foreign offices, especially the Russian Foreign Office, that still containuntold historical treas ures. Another difficulty that confronted me is the fact that the events of the last half-century are too recent, and it is very difficult to remain absolutely impartial. Yet the contemporary has one great asset, his personal observations, and these are particularly valuable in portraying personal characteristics. Russias role during these last decades has been very important. Little can be understood of the modern tangle of European affairs if one does not know or consider Russias foreign relations. In analyzing the latter one must keep in mind not only the social forces that move nations to certain ends 1 2 RUSSIAS FOREIGN RELATIONS WITH and achieve national aims, but also the role played by the various personalities, the statesmen at the helm of their countries. It is possible that a time will come when democracies and public opinion will direct for eign affairs, as they govern and influence other do mains of public life, but with this great modern prob lem I will deal separately later on. At present one must acknowledge that very much still depends on person alities on the character, the ideals and very often even on the moods and proclivities of foreign secretaries, heads of states or ambassadors. In Russia and eastern Europe this was very much the case up to the time of the armistice of 1918, and we cannot yet be sure that this state of affairs has van ished forever. Take as an example the role which the Russian Tsars played in shaping the fate of their country How much Russias . foreign .. policy depended on the likes anc clisffies of her Emperors We jnight instnce the strong feelings of dislike of Alexander Itt the tactlessness of Alexander of Bulgaria theslubbom ladkjDifjm II, hia alarming weakness when dealing with the Kaiser, which led first to the Bjorko Treaty in direct contra-., ., ,, ........, ., . i, i - t, W, , f, , , , j, , , , diction Jo Jtjhe French Alhanc u and Jater Jko tlie Great his treacherQi iv, jj nfi or towa ffie . disentangle the moral sup- must be brought against the ministers, of f fjaiei mS JiL.. a 3argS muiiSufe Russias fate depended on their personalities...