The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-09
COEUNfBTK1... s.. C.
Wednesday Morning. June s, 1875.
The War Cloud In England.


The problem in European affairs just
now seems to be whether France is arm
ing for another war with Germany, in
the hope Of restoring her lost military
prestige, or Germany is seizing upon the
efforts of France to restore her army to
its ordinary footing. rs pretext for an
other war to be inaugurated for the pur-
pose Of completely subjugating the
French. Many Of the official statements
that come to MS hive the mir of diplomatic
untruthfulness, while the rumors that
are caught Up p>by travellers and occasional
co1Tasrondsats, are probably unreliable
by reason. of their being the expression
of individual private! opinion within q
very limited circle. The Louisville
Couricr-Journdl thinks nothing is more
natural than that, the hot-blooded young
soldiers of France, lounging in the cafe
or sauntering along the boulevards,
should loudly proclaim their desire to
wipe off the stain upon the French army
Nothing is more natural than that un-
military tourists, not familiar with the
spectacle of military organization, should
mistake repair for construction, remodel
ing for development. And nothing,
again, is more natural than that the ru-
mors of these sights and sounds should
occasion gossip in the outside world, and
cause suspicion among the people of
Germany. But of all gossip, the gossip
of impending war is the least trustwor-
thy, simply for the reasons that causes of
complaint are subjects of confidential
communications between governments,
and the methods of war demand secrecy
in its preparation. This secrecy extends
even to collateral correspondence, as was
illustrated in the British House of Lords
last Monday, when the curiosity of the
public eliminated in q resolution offered
by Earl Russell, asking that the corres-
pondence between Great Britain and the
continental powers, arising out of the
recent war alarm, should be laid before
the House. In response, the Earl of
Derby, Minister of State for the Foreign
Department. replied that he sympathized
with tho curiosity of those who had
watched the course of foreign affairs dur
ing the last few weeks, but it would be
impossible to give a fair account, with
out largely using confidential communi-
cations relating to the policy and opinions
OF other governments, who would object
to such disclosure9. This declination of
the British Government to furnish the
House of Lords with authenticated in
formation on the subject would seem to
leave little for reliable information from
private sources. But the next day IN
unsigned letter in. the London Times de-
clared that~a few weeks ago the German
representatives at the various European
courts Officially complained that France
was arming;Yith view to the early re-
sumption Spf war; and that General
Won Schweinitz, the German Minister in
Vienna, had stated it was only owing to
Germanys long suffering that war had
not yet broken out. This statement
was, in measure, corroborated by Lord
Derby's remayks, on the previous even
ing; for after declining to produce the
official correspondence, he stated that
persons highest in authority in Berlin of
army had become q source of danger to
Germany, BECAUSE it's magnitude showed
determination on the part of France to
renew the war; that Germany in self-de-
fence might feel impelled to strike the
first blow to secure.peace, and that it was
necessary that thes1ferich army should
be considerably, Reduced. ! If these re-
ports had not official shape, they at least
bear the impress of German sanction.
They seem to have been thrown by
Germany into the current of war gossip
to elicit expression {sso Of opinion. They
are not authoritative because they are
rumors, but, as repeated by Lord Derby,
they show what isror may be, the atti.
tude of Germany, and Lord Derby said
FIsHoe Fray .ussSp SaEss1 as shas se
officially revealed to the House of Lords
presents the question whether Germany
or France is seeking war. Whatever
disinclination the British Government
may have to making an official revelation
of the actual situation, it seems to have
no hesitation in exposing its opinions on
the situation inferred from the rumors
repeated by its Foreign Minister. Lord
Derby declared to the Lords that he
accepted as entirely sincere the disclaim-
er of the French Government of all
warlike intentions. He believed no
statesman in France contemplated re-
newal of the war, and in behalf of
France he Suid that n naturally altar kor