Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-09
FRANCE AND GERMANY.
The Recent War RmmoFs Discussed in tn
English House of Lords-OccusiOn of tn
Visit of Gear Alexander.

Visit OF Gar Alexander.
In the English House of Lords, Mon
| day, May 31st, Earl Russell asked that
the correspondence between Great Brit
Jain and the Continental powers. arising
jout of the recent war alarm. be laid he
fore the House.
The Earl OF Derby replied that he
sympathized with the curiosity of those
who had watched the course of foreign
affairs during the last few weeks. Tie
Government desired to conceal nothing
it had done, but it would be impossible
to give a very fair account with
out largely disclosing conf
Dental communications relating
to the policy and opinions of other
governments who would object to such
a disclosure. The publication of these
communications would prevent the
English diplomatists from receiving in
formation in the future, and to submit
a mutllated correspondence might mis-
lead the House. The causes of the dis
pute were liable to recur, and, there
fore, it was not desirable, in the
interests OF peace, to give publicity TO
the details of the controversy.
Lord Derby then proceeded to state
that the persons highest in authority in
Berlin openly declared that the French
army had become source of danger to-
Germany because It's magnitude showed
a determination on the part of France
to renew war, that Germany, in self
defense, might feel impelled to strike
! the first blow to secure peace, and that
it was necessary that the French army
should be considerably reduced This
language, reported by German
representatives here and elsewhere
created extreme uneasiness in France.
The French Government Immediately
disclaimed all warlike intentions. Lord
Derby said he accepted this declaration
as entirely sincere. He believed no
statesman IN France contemplated re-
newal of. the war. France, after her
humiliation, naturally desired to have.
an army which would give her influence
to which she considered herself entitled.
One of the difficulties was that the
French were unable to conceive that the
German aprehensions were genuine.
They regarded the representations made
by Germany as a pretext for fresh war.
Hesaid itseemed to her Majesty's govern
ment that there was mutual misrnder-
standing which might lead to grave
consequences, for Germany's next step
might have been a formal request for
France to discontinue her armament. and
France, on the other hand, would prob
ably hasten it, and thereby confirm the
suspicious of Germany. The existence
of this mutual distrust afforded a good
opportunity to offer the friendly Offices
of England. The Russian Government
saw things in the same light, and the
visit of the Emperor Alexander to Ber-
lin supplied the means of supporting
! Englands representations.
Lord Derby concluded by declaring
that England had done her duty with
out sacrifice past, present, Or prospect
i've. She had entered into no entangle--
ments and made no pledges, but her
policy of non-intervention did not
mean isolation or Indifference to the
peace of Europe.
On the departure of the Gear of Rus
STA from Berlin, the North German Ca
zette devotes an article to the occasion
of his visit, in which it says:
ellis Majesty's sojourn has passed
off most satisfactorily. It was not nee
essary to pave the way for an unGer-
standing upon leading questions be-
tween the two sovereigns and their chief
advisers, inasmuch as the complete
agreement already existing meets with
fresh confirmation in the interests of
universal peace at each meeting Of the
three Emperors, as has been the case,
indeed, during the last few suspicious
days. The alarming rumors as to war
projects entertained in Berlin OBJ
tanned no credence In st. Peters
burg, and the Emperor Alexander
did not come here under the suppose
ton that there was great confagration
to be extinguished. The convection
once expressed by the Emperor of Rus
STA in his prophetic wisdom that the al
lance Of the three Emperors would
guarantee the maintenance of peace,
and that there would only be danger of
the peace Of the world being broken if
France was bent upon breaking it, has
been greatly strengthened within the
past few days. Russia's confidence in
Germany's moderation is not shared
everywhere. But the dissemination
of suspicion against Germany has
scarcely ever met with such success as
in the present instance Public opinion
vainly endeavors to discover why the
falsehOodS have found credence on this
occasion, especially in England. In
our age every secret is brought to light.
It may now easily be guessed why the
leading members of society have given
way to this suspicion. It manifested
itself in well-accredited manner.
Persons whose positions gave them a
great claim to be trusted were consid-
cred to guarantee the statements set
ahoat, and it was, moreover, overlooked
that highly placed personages had evil
IDENTIFY some connection with the Ultra
montanes. tt is, therefore, SO much the
more pleasant to remember that our
Russian friends have not doubted Ger
many's policy for one moment
Crop Prospects in Kansas.
Reports received by the State Board
of Agriculture from forty-seven Kansas
counties show the condition Of wheat to