The New York herald., 1871-09-12
Germany and Kassia-sIore Earopean Csnr-

| Gasteln ana Salzourg, ana OF tue purPoSeu
meeting of NJ Theirs and Prince Gortcha-
koff in Switzerland is plain from the despatch
of the HRRALD's special correspondent at
Paris. This despatch Is only another proof Of
the traditional faithlessness of Prussia. As
matter of course the Germans are only waiting
for an opportunity to swallow up the German
provinces of Austria, and will attempt it on
the slightest pretext, but the very weakness
Of the Austrian empire has hitherto
prevented such consummation. The
war with France not having afforded the
coveted opportunity, Prussia would be slow to
strengthen Russia by fresh conquests in Cen
trail Asia or by upholding the attitude of the
Gear on the Treaty of Paris. There is, con-
sequently, colduess between the two great
European Powers, and each of them is seek
ing alliances with weaker States, though,
perhaps, only to lull Austria and Turkey into
the repose which sometimes precedes dissolu-
ton.
If France had not agreed to leave Austria
| to her fate in 1866, allured to that course by
| impossible promises, Sedan might not have
| followed in the wake of Sadowa. If Russia
had been warned by this want of faith on the
part of Prussia she would not need now to COM
plain that she fell into the same trap which
lost Napoleon his throne and brought terrible
humiliation upon France. The one Power
sought the rectifcation of the Rhine provinces;
the other was anxious to obtain the annul-
| ment Of the Treaty Of Paris. Both were
promised what they desired, and both were
deceived and disappointed. 1t is idle for
papers like the Golos to be recounting
the history of Prussian duplicity or
to cry out against the traditional policy of
Germany. There were many little episodes
in German diplomacy which it might have
been well for the Gear to remember before he
allowed himself to be overreached by Bis
marck, as Napoleon had been overreached be-
| fore him, but now he must be thankful that
he still retains his Eve seaports on the Baltic
| and look upon the conferences of the two Ger
man Emperors with whatever comfort he can
| find in them.
| In itself neither the Conference at Gastein
nor the one which has just taken place at Salz-
burg is Of much significance. The Roumanian
difficulty is the only question likely to be set
tied by the recent meeting, and this only be-
cause Beust finds it convenient to yield every
point to Bismarck. A treaty may have been
agreed upon at Salzburg by the terms
of which the three Powers who were
at deadly war in 1866 are made
the closest of allies. but we would be sur
prised if Austria had exceptionally good for
tune in an alliance with Germany, or if this
| should prove more fortunate than her pre-
vious Prussian alliances. In 1862, when the
| Schleswig- -Holstein war was imminent, these
Powers agreed upon treaty of eternal friend
| ship, but after Denmark was beaten Austria
became Prussias next victim. The cases of
| France anu Russia, the one in 1866, the other
in 1870, we have just recited, and next it will
| be Austria's turn again. But Russia must be
humbled before the great work of German
unity can be successfully accomplished, and
these conferences are the hint of Germanys
purpose. No sooner had the Germans sue
ceeded in their designs against France than
| they proceeded to inform Russia of this neces-
sity, not by words 1t is true, but by most os-
| tentatiou5 courting Of Austria. Bismarck may
have been anxious for the settlement
of the Roumanian difficulty, but he
| was more anxious to show Gortchakolf
that the secret understanding between the
| two Powers at Versailles would be observed
no longer by his imperial master; and this is
the meaning of the Salzburg conference.
! Under all these circumstances Russia would
naturally look to France for an alliance which
shall be set-off to the alliance Of the German
empires. But any conference which may take
place at Lausanne between M. Theirs and
Prince Gortchakoff will be significant only as
Russla's notification to Germany that she
takes the hint of the Salzburg conference.
The complications which are almost sure to
arise will spring from another quarter, and the
conflict, If any conflict occurs, will not be on
the Rhine, but in the Slavic parts of Austria.
Bismarck and the leaders who shall succeed
him will never be content till German unity
encompasses every German-speaking pro-
vince in Europe. This idea of CEN
tralization in one empire, according to
language, has taken complete possession
of the German mind, and Russia is initiating
Germany in seeking Pansavic leadership.
That Russia is ready for any emergency which
this leadership may entail is evident from the
warning cries Of the Golos, the inspired organ
of General Milutyn, the Minister Of War.
That journal points out the difficulties Germany
will have in dealing with the Slavic question,
and the dangers Of her present hostile attitude
toward Russia. This, taken in connection
with General MiIuiyns demand for a league
against German Vaccinations and Gortchakoff's
negotiations with France, give our special news
from Paris a peculiar value, and make our
correspondents revelations particularly timely.
| ArJc 1lu roouro-ia