The New York herald., 1868-08-11
trample upon the one and exalt the other, may
nave been of some moment then, but it is not
of much account to day.
the situation In Europe-The Entente Corr
dale Between Great Britain and France.

The Situation In Europe-The Entente Cor
dale Between Great Britain and France.
Lord Stanley has been in Paris. 1t was not
unnatural that the Foreign Minister OF
England, being in Paris, should seek out the
Foreign Minister of France. It can scarcely
fail to be cause of gratitude to many that
Lord Stanley and the Marquis Moustier are
agreed, and that in their opinion the future
tranquility of Europe is secured. The circum
stances are noteworthy that simultaneously
with this announcement we learn that the fire
which has been SO long smouldering in Spain
threatens to burst forth in general and ter
rife confagration, and that an arrest has been
made in Hungary which may prove fruitful Of
results along the line of the Danube.
1t is only ten days ago since, looking at the
general situation in Europe, we gave it as our
opinion that if Napoleon would march his
armies across the Pyrenees and perma-
nently annex Spain and Portugal to
the French empire he would, by one
stroke, accomplish the best thing pos
sible for France and the best thing possible
for the Iberian peninsula in the circum-
stances. We did not conceal from ourselves
the fact that a stroke which would be so bold
in itself and which would 80 greatly enlarge
the territory and SO nightly increase the power
of France would be almost certain to create
feeling Of jealousy on the part of the great
Powers. France, her population increased
by some twenty-one millions and her territory
extended over the richest part of Europe,
would be dangerous rival to all her neighbors.
England, Prussia, Austria, Russia might
again tremble for their independence, and by
another Holy Alliance proceed to rectify boun-
daries and adjust the balance of power In
Europe. In such case it would be difficult
for France to maintain her position. Europe
combined, especially if backed up by Great
Britain, has always been too much for her;
and Napoleonism might be forever ruined
and the pride of France permanently humbled
| by another allied occupation Of Paris.
| 1t is not, however, by any means certain that
| events would take such turn They might,
and they might not, and the presumption is
rather in favor of the negative. The occupa-
| ton of the Iberian peninsula by the armies OF
| France would unquestionably, in the first in
stance at least, beget jealousy, would certainly
| call forth loud and general remonstrance; but
| it is questionable whether even so bold step
would call into existence another anti-French
coalition in Europe. The Europe of to-
day is very different Europe from that of
| 1912, of 1914 or of 1915. 1t has different in
terests; it pursues different policy; it is
governed on different principles; the dynas-
ties are weaker; the people are stronger.
! Governments, in word are more isolated and
| more concerned about national than interna-
| tional interests. In such o case as we have
supposed Great Britain would. perhaps be
the most dangerous enemy with which Napo-
| leon would have to contend II would not be
possible for him to defend his vast extent of
seaboard if attacked by the iron-clads of Eng
land. 1t would be the less easy if attacked
| by Prussia on the north. Would ii not
be possible, however, to buy the con-
sent of England by allowing her to take entire
possession of Egypt, Suez canal and all? To
give up her hold on Egypt would be an i'm
mense sacrifice to France. To have Egypt
|
mense gain to England. England, in truth,
as Mr. Disraeli some time ago with bis ac-
| customed pungency remarked, is no longer
| European, but an Asiatic Power The British
isles are but the headquartersthe seat of
government. The empire is esewhere-in
the West Indies and in all sorts Of out Of the
way places under every sun. Her North
American and her West Indian possessions are
but of little value to her and promise to be-
come of less. OF all her possessions India is
that which she most prizes and which she
would least willingly let go. TO hold India
she needs Egypt Besides, with Egypt en-
| tirely under her control she might make Africa
her own, and out of those regions, made illus
trious by Livingstone and Baker by Speke
and Grant, and forever associated with the
immortal exploits of Napier, it might not
be impossible to create grander than
even her Indian empire. Let Napo-
leon make the British government the offer
of Egypt, and it will be more than sur
prising If European coalition against him is
not rendered impossible. Prussia would be
easily satisfied. Bismarck has but 10 be
permitted and encouraged to complete German
unity. Germany a unit and under Prussian
supremacy would be ample compensation for
any loss which Prussia might be supposed to
sustain by the aggrandizement of France. In
such case it would be necessary to allow
| Austria to extend her empire to the shores of
the Black Sea and to make herself mistress Of
| the mouths of the Danube. But to this neither
France nor Prussia could object. Turkey is
too weak to offer any effective opposition, and
Russia is too much engrossed with weighty
matters in the East To attend to such trihes in
the West