The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-24

or COssacko-Tho Co
Brewing in Europe.

Europe rests on q volcano Of political,
social and moral forces. No sooner has vent
been given to these by a great war, or some
revolutionary movement and the outlet is
closed up with a promise of peace, than
rumblings are heard again portending more
disasters Scarcely had the terrible war
between Germany and France closed, and the
more frightful civil war in Paris been sup
pressed, than we hear of possible fresh COM
plications between some of the great Powers
and indications Of coming conflict between
governments and the people. Our special
telegraphic despatch from Berlin, published
to-day in another part of the paper, informs us
that serious complications have arisen be-
tween Germany and England, and that
sharp dispatches were passing between
Bismarck and Lord Granville. The cause
does not appear to be definitely known yet
At the same time we learn that the German
government has made an imperative demand
upon France for the first instalment of the
war indemnity, which was to be paid, accord
ing to agreement thirty days after the rcstora-
ton of the authority of the French govern
ment Then there are the active and secret
movements of the International societies and
the counter movements of the European gov
ernments, as well as the difficulties in Italy
and in other parts of the Old World. In what
ever direction we look there appear to be
serious conflicts brewing.
With regard to England and Germany, we
do not see clearly on what principle or for
what immediate and specific object war should
be brought about. Sill there are portentous
rumors in the air. The people and press on
both sides of the German Ocean are speaking
of the possibility OF war between the two
nations. If the old adage. that "where there
is smoke there must be fire." holds
good, these war speculations may have
some foundation, and events may soon show
what that is. The Battle of Dorking" or some
thing like it may take place even before 1875.
1t has been said that Germany wants the small
island Of Heligoland, which lies off the mouths
of the rivers Elbe and Weser. which is an Eng
lish possession, and which, from its position
and the character of the population, should
belong to Germany. But we hardly think this
alone would be made cause of war. Eng
land, probably, would not refuse to part with
the island by sale or for some reasonable equi-
valent if approached in proper manner by the
German government. Then, Bismarck is too
able statesman, we think, to ask for the
cession of Heligoland in any other way, if
even he covets it, unless he has some Interior
object and wishes to make that pretext for
ic o<,%o
tenance rumors of possibility of war by way
of putting pressure on England for the pur-
pose of getting the island or for some other OBJ
ject not yet developed. He knows the spirit
Of the British too well to attempt to bully them
for such purpose, unless he wants quarrel
for some other object. 1t is curious to notice
in connection with this question the semi-serious
tone and speculations of the British press,
which are somewhat in the style of the 'sBat-
tie Of Dorking" article. The London Court
Journal has an article, s'Moltkes Coming"
in o vein rather more serious than humorous,
and seems to intimate that the great General
may want to find out what are the military
resources of England, just as the German
officers learned all about France before the
war.
Then 1t is said the entente cordidle between
Russia and the German empire means no good
to England. But here, again, we cannot see
the object these Powers can have in provoking
England to war, unless, indeed, they have the
ambition to reconstruct the map of both
Europe and Asia. If these colossal empires
should be united for such an object they
would, no doubt, be all-powerful. II they
of things-of the prostration Of France, the
unprepared condition and desire Of peace
of England, of the difficulties of Italy
and of the weakness of Austria-they
might reconstruct the map Of Europe
and Asia. Russia might thus crush the
Ottoman empire, seize Constantinople, and
push her conquests into Central Asia and to
India. The Germans might, under such an
understanding or compact, be given the Ger
transporting portions of Russia on the Baltic
and seize the remaining German part of Aus
tria, including Vienna. This would consoli-
date all the Germans in one empire-would
make an empire of fifty to sixty millions of
people, and extending from the Adriatic to the
Baltic and from the German Ocean to the
borders of Hungary. Russia at the same time
would find her compensation in the union of
the Slavonic race and in the accomplishment
of her long cherished designs in Turkey and
other parts of the East. True, this would be
a gigantic undertaking, but it is, to say the
least, within the bounds of possibility. Never
were the times more favorable. Never had
Germany and Russia two more able or am
bilious statesmen at the helm Of affairs than
Rismarck and Cortchakof Thov ara cp;to