The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-15
Alarming Condition OF Europc-Preparn.
lions for q General War.

Alarming Condition OF Europc-Prepara-
lions for q General War.
1t is impossible to mistake the formidable
character Of the movements which are in pre-
paration throughout Europe for the approach
ing spring. The silent energy with which they
are being carried out shows the conviction
that prevails, that diplomacy is powerless to
forestall the events that call them into activity.
The obstinate persistency of Austria in the in
sane policy which has cost her the most valua-
BILE Of her Italian provinces leaves the other
European governments no option but to league
together to protect themselves against the con-
sequences of her acts.
The cession of Venice offered ready solu-
ton of the difficulties which the Vienna Cabi-
net has brought upon itself, and up to the last
| few weeks there were hopes that it might be
induced to accedc to it, That expectation dis
appointed, no alternative remains but war. To
compensate for the sacrifices that it must bring
with it, there is some consolation in the reHec-
ton that the cause of human freedom will
| probably be the gamer by them.
The events of the last six months have shown
a wonderful unanimity of sentiment between
the leading governments and public opinion of
Europe, as represented through its press, on the
| folly and wickedness Of the course pursued by
| Austria in reference to Venice. The Paris, the
| st. Petersburg and the Berlin official organs
| have not hesitated to echo loudly the censures
pronounced on her conduct by the English and
| American journals. The failure of the Warsaw
| Conference offered further proof of the inAu-
| ence which the opinions thus enunciated exer
csed over the policy Of the Russian and Prus-
| sian governments. Had Francis Joseph and
his advisers not been utterly bereft Of common
sense, they would have accepted this indication
as guide for their future course. They lost,
however, the benefit of the lesson, and have
now to prepare for an accumulation Of perils
which had not before entered into their calcu-
lations.
In treating of this question we have frequent
that, notwithstanding occasional diplomatic d.
vergencies, there was a secret understand
| ing between France, England, Russia
and Prussia in regard to the course
which they should pursue in the event
Of Austria provoking another revolutionary out
break by her continued harsh treatment of We
nice. This view is confirmed by a statement
which we have just received from one of our
correspondents in Paris, who has access to the
| highest and most reliable sources of informa-
ton. The following, nc says, is the programme
decided upon between the governments in
question, in view of the events which are pre-
pairing for the SPRING
1. France is to continue indefinitely her mill
tary occupation of Rome and of Syria, but is
to withdraw her feet from Gaeta. Orders to
that effect have been sent to Admiral Tinan.
| 2. Bavaria, Saxony and several of the
smaller German States having pledged them
selves to support Austria in the event of Carl
| baldi commencing his threatened campaign
| against her by assisting the Hungarian revo-
lutionists, it is understood that no opposition
will be offered to Frances extension of her
frontiers to the Rhine. Prussia is to be in
Identified by slices Of Austrian territory and
the supreme authority of the Confederation,
the smaller sovereigns acting merely as her
viceroys This will give to the German peo-
pie the constitutional guarantees and the unity
which they SO much desire.
| s. Russia undertakes not to aid Austria, even
though Poland should be included in the re-
newed nationalities. This at first sight would
appear improbable, but for the fact that she is
to get a compensation to which she attaches
an infinitely higher value. The possession of
Constantinople and the undisputed control Of
the Black Sea are objects to Ter OF such ira
ditional pride and importance that she will
| gladly yield the Poles their independence to
i secure them.
A. England is to have for her concurrence
Egypt, which, with Malta, will secure to her
the shortest and most direct route to her Indian
empire.
We have in support Of this statement the
facts that France is making preparations for
war upon a much larger scale than mere CO.
| operation with Italy for the recovery of Venice
would necessitate; that the French army in
| Rome has been reinforced, and the occupation
Of Syria formally prolonged by the consent Of
| the other governments; that England is known
to have been seriously alarmed by the Suez
canalization project of M. de Lesseps, and that
ali lnsurrectlOn IL DclnS acuVcly IOlneHteu III
Servia, Bosnia and other dependencies of the
Porte by Russian emissaries, the rising to take
place simultaneously with that in Hungary.
| Il is settled that Garibaldi will commence his
operations for the recovery of Venice from the
latter quarter, and not by direct attack on
the Quadrilateral. By dividing the military
strength of Austria in this manner, it is
expected that she will be SO weakened as to
render the conquest of the Venetian territory
a subsequently, easy matter.
Whatever may be the value of this latter
speculation II is evident that the ball of revo-
luton cannot be again set in motion in Europe,
and the integrity Of a great empire menaced,
without there being general and long con-
| tinued disturbance of those interests which de-