Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-07-18
Secret Alliance Of Germany and Rus.
From the New York Sun

The military movements in the
East are occupying so much of pub
lie attention that the diplomatic
side of the question is apt te be
overlooked; and yet there is good
reason to believe that the pen is
this moment as active as the sword,
and that the ultimate peace Of
Europe depends rather upon the
decisions which may be arrived at
in the cabinet of nations not yet
involved in the struggle, than upon
the councils of war either of Rus
sia or Turkey. The nation upon
which the fate of Europe chiefly
hangs at this moment is England
and at this particular crisis her &C
ton will determine whether we are
to have European war or not.
We shall endeavor to make it clear
to our readers why this must be so.
In the first place, whatever doubts
we may have had during the earlier
stages of the question as to the
entente cordiaLe existing between
Russia and Germany are now re-
moved. We long hesitated to be-
lieve that a written understanding
existed between Prince Bismark and
Prince Gortchakof-we have yet
no absolute proof even that any
such has been signed, and undoubt-
edly the utmost care has been ia
ken to keep the secret-but the
impression that such an instrument
exists is current in every cabinet
in Europe: and when the best in
formed statesmen entertain a fixed
conviction in regard to diplomat
ic fact of this nature, we cannot
afford to disregard it. The pub
lie here has received no informa-
ton in this sense, because news OF
this kind rarely reaches CORES
pondents, and even when it does,
they often do not attach to it the
Importance which it deserves.
A very close observation of the
policy of the Austrian cabinet
leaves US in no doubt that it is
inspired by more than a mere ap-
prehension that Russia is sure of
German support. It's recent &C
ton in regard to Montenegro seems
to have been excited by a menace
on the part of Italy against Tur-
key, which can only be explained
on the hypothesis that this menace
was dictated from Berlin. In other
words, the political solidarity of
Germany, Italy and Russia, is, for
the moment, at all events, COM
plete. The power most threatened
by this alliance is Austria; bu.
Austria is powerless to resist it.
She is in a wise, and, unless effec-
lively supported by other European
powers, could not, with Turkey
alone, hold her own against so pow
erful coalition. She must, there
fore, remain paralyzed unless she
can find an ally. Now, there are
only two nations in Europe to
which she can look in the emer-
gency; one is France, the other
England. But France is involved
in the agonies of an internal crises,
and even were she not, she is too
much in dread of Germany to take
the initiative. There only remains
England. To this power Austria
has, since the commencement Of
the war, looked with longing eyes.
The day that England openly de-
clares herself prepared to go to
war for the Turk will find Austria
unbesita:ingly ranged on her side;
and there can be little doubt that
the combination of England, Aus
tria and Turkey in battle array
would encourage France to unite
herself with those powers, to be
followed by the minor states Of
Belgium, Holland, and perhaps
Denmark.
II England does rot move, we
do not see any danger whatever of
this fearful confagration; If she
does move, we do not see how 1t
can be everted. As it is Of ex-
IRENE importance to Germany and
Russia that it should be averted,
there cannot be the slightest doubt
that their diplomatic efforts are at
this moment concentrated with the
utmost earnestness upon England.
1t is only common sense that 1t
should be so, and it happens to be
q matter Of fact that it is SO. The
question is, how do they propose
to keep England quieti The bride
I'M