TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. 

Sir,—Need I say I read with much interest the leader entitled “War Declared” in your issue of the 18th inst., in which I understand you to say that nothing could have been done by the Powers to prevent the present war. But would not Article XXIII have done something? If not, why, then, the recent desire to reinstate it? And is Lord Salisbury’s frank confession nothing to the point? How can any one be sure that the proper observance of that article, had it been allowed to remain, would not have satisfied all aspirations? Of course the “bag and baggage” policy would have been more to my taste, for the leopard docs not change his spots nor the Turk his moral skin, and I wish some new Gladstone would arise to support that view. At all events the evil day would thereby have been postponed, perhaps even until “those influences of nomadism which for five centuries have hampered, and often completely arrested.” the development of the Christian Slavs would, in the natural order of progress, have been improved off European soil. 

But to come to another point, that history repeats itself is not always to be deplored. On the contrary, we have noble examples in the past which should not only not be forgotten, but should be kept carefully in mind. The other day I was blamed for speaking so thoughtlesslу of the obligations that paralyse England’s present diplomacy—the obligations to her Musulman subjects in India. How, it is said, can England support the Balkan Christians when her hands are tied by her unchristian subjects elsewhere? 

Now, although I am a foreigner—heart and soul Russian—уet I have read a little of English political history, and from which I learn something that applies to England’s alleged dilemma as above set forth. You had a fearless and noble statesman, who said, “Do unto others as you would that others should do to you.” Such was the principle of your great Canning, and upon which he acted when England joined France and Russia to preserve Greek independence against Turkey, whose fleet was destroyed at Navarino when Greece became free. No hesitation on Canning’s part for fear of wounding Indian susceptibilities—nor probably was there more danger of this then than (I opine) there is now. 

For justice and compassion must commend itself to all, to your Indian subjects amongst others; and I can scarcely believe that general opinion in India would protest against the protection of poor Christians by a Christian Power against long-suffered persecution and distress. 

Yours faithfully. 

OLGA NOVIKOFF (née Kireef). 

4, Brunswick-place. Regent’s Park, N.W., Oct. 21. 

THE TIMES, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1912.