The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-25 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE INTERVIEWED.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times says :—"Dean
Stanley and Mr. Gladstone attended Father Ilyacinthe's
Church on Sunday. The Gaulois claims to have interviewed
Mr. Gladstone prior to his departure from Paris, and it re-
presents him as having replied to its questions substantially
as follows :

" 'The difficulties being encountered by England in
Afghanistan were her own work and the responsibility
for them could not be thrown on others. When in
office he endeavoured, and he believed with success, to
establish amicable relations with Russia, and though
English policy had changed hands, he firmly hoped
the good sense of the two nations would avoid a
conflict which would be very onerous for England.
The material difficulties of such a war were enor-
mous, and where would Russia's vulnerable point be
found? Immense deserts severed Russia from India,
where there was really nothing to fear, and the Rus-
sians had a difficult task in preserving and strengthen.
ing their conquests in Turkestan. As to the Get.
man alliance with Austria, the immediate object
was certainly Russia, whom Prince Bismarck wished
to restrain; but its nature must not be exag-
gerated, for the Prince was a man who did not
hesitate to throw aside tools no longer needed and
would abandon a nation as readily as he had done
German parties. He saw no reason to fear a
German attack on France. In Continental politics
England, when not shut up in a circle of selfish ideas,
leaned towards the country attacked; but she was not
inclined to definite alliances, her geographical position
giving her a kind .of moral impartiality, which she
ought to exercise only for the interests of peace and
civilization. This was also his own view, which he
explained in Parliament on the fall of the first
Palmerston Cabinet. He had always been favourable
to an entente cordiale between England and France,
and warmly desired more intimate relations between
them. They might act together for useful objects; but
an accord could not exist for culpable enterprises.
They had made a mistake in Egypt, but he did not
know which Cabinet was in fault. Turkey should not
have been allowed to revive the right of disposition,
for she had not sufficient independence for such a pre-
rogative, and the exclusion of other European Powers
from the control and protection of their interests was
not a good principle. As to the Suez Canal, the
Beaconsfield Cabinet had acted unwisely in buying
the Viceroy's sharer, for, though a great hit, it had
been the source of other imprudences. As to the
route to India, let England preserve her supremacy at
sea; that will suffice to insure our communications
with our great Eastern dependency,'
"After cpmplimenting France on her progress in political
education and depreciating the attaching of any importance
to the Humber incident (continues the correspondent of
The limes), Mr. Ginn stone is represented as saying that all
the Italian politicians he had met
paid no regard to the
Italia Irredenta manonvres and had no thought of disturb-
ing the repose of Europe. He agreed with his interviewer
that public opinion in England was turning round to the Lib-
erals, Lord Derby's movement being a significant symptom of
this. Lord Derby, however, had always been as much
Liberal as Conservative, being, indeed, as regarded love of
peace, ultra-Liberal and more decided than Lard Hartington
and Lord Granville. The next elections be was con-
vinced would be favourable to the Liberals; but if they
returned to place, the succeeding the Beaconsfield Ministry
would be a very heavy burden. Asked whether it
would not be necessary for himself to become Premier, Mr.
Gladstone is represented as saying, 'Oh, no, the Marquis of
Hartington and Lord Granville will be equal to the task. As
for me (said he, smiling at the recollection of one of his
favourite recreations), Jai jets is manche aprs La roguee,'
and will not resume the burden of office unless forced by my
country men."

AN AUDACIOUS ROBBEBY.—A few days ago, while
the Princess L3bkovitz was taking her usual walk
from her castle of Krimic in the direction of Bils.kale, in
Bohemia, she wag accosted by two gipsy women, who
asked for alms. The Princess took her portmonnaie
from her wicket and banded them a few small silver
coins. But they were not satisfied with the amount;
and while one of them snatched the portmonnaie out
of her hand, the other made away with a large gold
medallion which she had round her neck. The
Princess was BO surprised by their audacity that
some time elapsed before she recovered herself and
called for help. But the two robbers had decamped
and left no trace behind,

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