On Friday week, when K Poincare's visit to Russia came
to an end, an announcement was published which had been drawn up jointly by M. Poincare and M. Sazonoff, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. They remarked that their discus- sions had been marked by " absolute confidence and sincere friendship." They then continued (according to Renter's message) :-
"The two Governments have recognized once again that the entente of the two friendly and allied countries is based upon per- manent interests and consecrated by unchanging feeling, and that it can be progressively adapted to all the necessities which an alliance should foresee, and that the alliance remains a precious guarantee for the maintenance of peace and of the equilibrium of Europe."
This phraseology is, of course, intended to cover the growth of the new Russian Fleet in accordance with the needs of Russian policy and of that of the Triple Entente. The military convention, which is twenty years old, has no doubt been also reviewed in relation to the new Naval Convention. When Austria's friend " in shining armour " exacted the com- pliance of Russia there was no ready co-operation between Russia and France. It is not intended that a repetition of that episode should be possible. For the rest it is to be noted that for the second time within a few weeks the value of the present grouping of the Powers has been expressly em-
