The Memoirs of Count Witte

The memoirs of Count Witte (1849-1915), Russian minister and statesman, cover the main political and social events in Tsarist Russia in the second part of the 19th century and up to 1912. Mentions, also, the anti-Jewish pogroms in Odessa (1871), Kiev (1888), and Kishinev (1903), and the responsibility of Tsarist politicians. On pp. 377-381, 592-593 he expressed his opinion on the "Jewish question" in Russia, blaming traditional Russian anti-Jewish policies and legislation, which he considered to be harmful also to the Russians. He pleaded for a gradual elimination of anti-Jewish laws, and supported the assimilation of the Jews. See other references in the subject index under: "Jewish question", "Jews", "Pogroms".