The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-24


Before Them.
It has been the fashion in Europe for many
years to agitate profoundly what are known as
diplomatic circles by the announcement that
certain crowned heads or their ministerial fac
totums are about to meet quietly at some
watering place in the summer months and
''discuss the situation" Every individual
who could possibly be included in the dip
lomatic circles, and great many who could
not Immediately knows something on the mat
ter which nobody else knows, and which he
would impart to the world i'll confidence. AS
if to make the delusion perfect those nearest
the crowned heads or factotums about to have
the meeting would state semi-officially
that it meant nothing more than
q mere friendly chat about family matters;
for, curously enough, these crowned heads,
no matter what their opposing policies may
be, manage to have mutual relatives There
is no reason why this should not be SO; yet
their most apparent use has been to make the
thnnest of covers for imperial and kingly
consultation Biarritz, in the south of France,
in the days of the last Napoleon, attracted
European attention annually; but the conse-
quences that followed an interview between an
| Emperor and an ambassador at Ems, another
watering place, took all the importance out of
Biarritz.
| This year the snug little town of Ischl, in
Upper Austria, famous for it's saline waters,
| will be the centre round which the diplomatic
circles will agitate themselves The three
| ~c,,l Il H. -
Europe will meet and drink the waters there
and then proceed to business, or the SEM
blance of it, and doubtful echoes from the
imperial utterings will run in hints and
whispers around Europe for month or two.
A glance at the position of affairs in Europe
to-day will furnish ample subjects for COM
ment when the Gar Alexander, the Kaiser
Wilhelm and the Kaiser Francis Joseph
join hands around the table in quiet little
parlor at Ischl. They will have before
them map of Europe changed considerably
within couple of years, and several new
questions arising therefrom, as well as the old
chronic ones which wait patiently for settle
ment. Speculation is already busy with the
subjects they will discuss; but where the field
is so wide it is folly to say they will begin here
and end there
In highly important moment they meet;
none the less so that the prospect of immediate
peace is so good. 1t is indeed in such times
on the rebound of the wave, that all well-laid
plans to take advantage Of the next situation
must be put in shape One empire has van
ished from the scene amid blood, and another
| hoe VIC Eron
petual threat to the rest of Europe, lies chained
with debt and faint from loss of blood, yet
bitter and angered at heart at heavy defeat
accumulated upon its head. The Emperor
who led her hosts to disaster has passed away
with curse upon him from the inmost soul
of France; yet these three Emperors well
know that the hate which will follow Napo-
leon into exile is tenfold moro bitter
toward those who sent him thither.
Kaiser wilhelm is not so sure that
republican France prepared to fevenge the
shame of imperial France would he so easily
dealt with as the latter was. He has cemented
his empire with the blood of France, and now he
| would have time to let it ''set." The two EN-
| perors he will meet can help him much in this.
Neither can love France much Within twenty
years both Russia and Austria have felt the
weight of her arm; and Kaiser Wilhelm is
doubtless sure in his reckoning that he can
expect on their countenance for his purpose, if
not ON their actual aid. 1t is the making assur-
ance doubly sure which will lead them to make
such show of strength as would incline even
the rashest Frenchman to pause before he in
voked the god of war. The position Of Austria
in this conference must be more of one who
acquiesces and waits than one who has strong
points to urge or demands to make. There
are of course, exceptions to this, but they are
of more apparent than real value, such as the
Danubian principalities.
Russia on the French question has not
very deep interest, as her isolation from West
ern Europe becomes greater every day. par
ticularly since Germany erected the strong
wall of the Northern Empire across SO large a
portion of the Continent. Since the time of
Peter the Great her policy has leaned towards
triumvirate of European Powers to hold the
balance of rule between them. France in
Peters time, was the ally, with
Austria, it would have chosen; but
with France crippled, and, above all, a
republic, it is certain that the cold cal
culation of Russian statecraft would select the
Teutons in exchange for the Gauls. This
does not answer thoroughly the design of
Peter, for the closest allies of circumstance
are often enemies at heart, and since the
border lines Of all the three Powers
meet, the equipoise of territory is
lost But accepting the inevitable and
joining hands, the first evidence of the disad-
vantage of the new coalition will find apt
illustration in discussion Of the affairs Of I'M