Russia—the Dark Horse
Russia, a little time ago in the centre of the European picture, has fallen into the background in recent news, but it is a significant if shadowy background which we cannot long forget. Her treaty with Germany has already played a decisive part, against us and for us, in encouraging the Nazis to aggression on the one hand, and on the other in causing a change of Japanese policy and creating mistrust of Ger- many in Italy and Spain. But what next? Her partial mobilisation is estimated to have increased the men under arms from two millions to four millions, probably two-thirds of them being in Europe. But this is not necessarily a threat to anyone. All the countries near the danger zone have mobilised or partially mobilised as a measure of security. It would be rash for anyone to speak with confi- dence about Russia's intentions, but it is at least clear that it is in her special interests to remain at peace whilst th: European Powers are exhausting themselves by war—tiler- is certainly no reason to suppose that she is less anxious that Germany should exhaust herself than that any other Power should do so. A Germany so triumphant as to be able to annex Poland would not suit her book. But if the Western. Powers are ready to prevent that from happening, why shouP she trouble to intervene at this stage of the War? Th-.' longer she waits, and the longer the War continues with he: as neutral, the relatively stronger is her position.
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