New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-25
THE PEACE OF EUROPE.
TILE RRuSsELs CONGRESS.

STANDING BETWEEN THE GO VbkNhENIS OF
GERMANY AND RUSSIA
fyRom THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRiBUNEl
BERLIN. July 81 have not quite solved the
secret OF the Brussels which ia to meet the
I,st OF this month and am the free 10 make THIS
confession since have had oerablY good opportunities
OF observation and study. IL is indeed one curious sig"
NJ the uncertain times in which live that every
State except Russia treats the enterprise with reserve
RI the utterdnces OF an inspired Press III "e'-
many were never 10 be read between the
lines one would say that Prince Bismarck IL
decidedly hostile 10 the whole scheme. ana II
willing to give 1t at cold support Thus there
was something almost ferOcious in the manner III "eh
the Norddeuische AHgeme'ne Zeifung repndi"teu 'or
Germany the authorship OF the published Proe."
This was perhaps polite, and IL perhaps the conuuct
of the Prussian diplomatisis ASK ono OF tneW Pu'
ton about the coming conference and he viii shrg MS
shoulders and tell you bandy that 1t Is Russian affair."
TO which Germany only pays the compliment OF sending
a delegate; or he win perhaps observe WIN
deep irony, that It's fine thlng ior INC
Russians 10 get up this Congress in July. while they
are already gone tohe German baths The newspapers
fall readily this Tone doubtless from real l-hpr
ance and while specializing on the course that france
AMI England will pursue. present Germany as an IN
diffarent spectator At the same time they suggest
that the Empire may finally have the deciding voice
The part OF Breunus is a popular one here now
and tho last moment Germany may stride III between
the diplomatic shopmen at Brussels and throw her
heavy sword into the scale.
The attitude Of England and France ia closely studied
There is now going the rounds OF the rural press para
graph treating the two Western Powers in tho consider
ate tone peculiar to Germany since the last war; Inc
writer begins by observing careessy that 1t Is now but
too evident that those two powers have gO0d uhuer-
standing and Will follow common pOucy III TeSdiu W
tho Congress The fact being thus estaosheu NC goes
on TO reveal the infamous designs covered Dy 'hiS ar
rangement During the late war it appears that France
automatically violated every obligation OF lhtefna
tonal law OF nature.yo humanity; she refused
TO EXEMPT private property OF the enemy from
capture at sea- and thus di5mane her navy after Ger
many having navy, and therefore no discretion nau
set such a striking examples and now she demands
immunity for these ourages from the Brussels CONFER
ence. And what is Englands ohenset AZ Is that her
subjects sold aud munitions Of war to the French
when Vatel and Wheaton say that neutral state must
not assist either belgerent, and that they delivered
coal to French when authorities dlIer as TO
whether coal be or be not contrlband OF war;
In regard to the current German view o. the confer
ence am profoundly skeptical. number OF little
circumstances throw light the subject and the first
Il the well.known relations between the German ana
Russian Chanceors The personal and political init
macy between Prince Bismarck aud Prince GortschakoH
ia one of the most striking to portcntous facts
IN the European politics of to-day. 1t Is common 10
speak of the friendship OF the two Emperors as the
basis OF the harmony OF policy between the two
Empires; and since this friendship falls In with the
purposes Of the two Councillors, 1t 10 of course an
important factor but the sOyereigns are minor pieces
after all. They the pawns OF the game The Sig
ncant fact is that the fortunes of Europe are now at
the mercy OF penetrating and ambitious Politicians
In view or this state OF things, 10 seems to me morally
impossible that Prince Gortschakof could have panhed
this Brussels Congress without the concurrence OF MS
German colleague 1t would indeed, have been mpru-
dent to have done Congress under the distinct
and exclusive patronage OF Russia would have been
impotent from the start. France aud England would
have controlled it completely; and the reserve whlch
those show proves at least that they detect
a combination. more less solid OF the three great
Eastern Powers.
These three Powers have a interest as against
other Powers and at least equal interest as toward
one another, giving certain tendency to all ieesla-
ton in regard to the conduct OF They are the
three Powers which support the highest standing
armies they interested in adding to the value
of those armies by paralyzlng all other comoatants
They have practically their whole abebodied popula-
ton under arms. After the defeat Of their regular
forces they would have but slender Of resistance
10 the knife and they naturally wish to handicap other
States which have fewer active soldiers but large
population that might carry a protracted irregular
struggle defense Of their homes THIS appears To me
TO be the tendency OF the code that to be submitted
to the Congress- There Is OF course humane side TO
movement In favor OF narrowing warfare down 10
regular recognized combatants. On the whole It COM
ends itself the OF phanthropsts as well as
OF statesmen only one must serutnze very closely all
humane enterprises that Prince GOrtschakOf and Prince
Bismarck undertake. The German delegate will be, 1t
appears, Gen. Won Weights Rhetz This parsonage Ia
one OF the Prussan scholarly soldiers a man Of much
seassurance though not without some political ability
Nothing is publicly known about his instructions. 1t
has been stated Prince Bismarck made his adhesion
conditional on the strict limitation OF the Conference to
military questions but do not know the authority for
the statement.