The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1879-10-18
Letters from Europe.

Bismarcks Visit to Vienna-Austrio-
German Alliance The Recsperation
ofFranoe Viewed with a Jealous
Eye.
VIENNA, September "a, 1879.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Owing to slight indisposition,
Prince Bismarck has been obliged to
postpone his departure from Gastein
for twenty-four hours, and will conse-
qnently not be here before Sunday.
His visit to this capital is, it appears,
a source Of considerable CONCERN tn
foreign governments; indeed, some Of
them contemplate it's results with
serious apprehension. It is scarcely
necessary to add that foremost among
the latter is France, though l have
every reason to believe that the
anxiety felt by the French govern
meut is shared elsewhere in quarters
where FOR some time past the whole
policy Of Germany has been watched
with the utmost vigilance. It is with
in my knowledge that by more than
one foreign Cabinet an Austrio. Ger.
man alliance is regarded as exceed
ingly probable. Il is supposed, OF
possibly evidence may exist to the
effect, that the alliance is to be of q
defensive character, and that it will
guarantee the integrity Of Austrian
and German territory. Certain Of tie
Western Powers feel alarmed lest
Prince Bismarck should succeed in
drawing Austria into sucl, al arrange.
mcnt aud are looking for eventual
assistance in the direction where they
think it is most likely to be found. It
is apparently believed that those sin
lister designs which Germany was
prevented from carrying out u few
years ago by the interference Of Eng
land and Russia were never finally
abandoned, aud there is al impress
sion that at the present moment
more than ever they are entertained
by Prince Bismarck. Next year, it is
said, will see the completion Of tie
new organization Of the French army,
and according to the calculation of
the German staff France will then he
able to put 10000 more men il tie
field than Germany. On one or two
occasions since the episode known as
the "French scare" it has been re-
ported that q disarmament has been
proposed by the Ger,nAn Ambassador
in Paris, but has never found any
echo with the French goyernneut.
Meanwhile France has quietly and
perseveringly pursued her work Of
reorganization, wisely avoiding the
smallest pretext for offense in her
dealings with foreign powers. She has
now resumed her rank in Europe to
the satisfaction of the civilized wo, Id,
save, il is found, Of Germany. To
attack France simply because ut
some future period she may prove
more than a MATCH for her conqueror
of 1870 would be quite as unjustifiu.
Die now as it was when England and
Russia prevented it four or five years
ago, and it is difficult to believe that
Prince Bismarck meditates such a
course. England would certainly
not tolerate it, and there is nothing
to prove that Russia would not 10
equally opposed to it now as she was
then. Austria would hardly form an
alliance with Germany for such
purpose, and while admitting that to
some extent appearances are pucl, rs
to lead to q contrary conclusion, yet
certainly should not advise your
readers to regard an Austria Ger
man alliance, if it be effected, as the
precursor Of Il Franco German war.
a very rational letter from Paris is
publishes! by one of the evening
papers, of which the following is an
extract: 1t is certain that the idea
Of vengeance is subsidi,g in France.
Alsace and Lorraine are not forgos.
ten, but no man in his senses thinks
Of going to war for them. 1t is hoped
that time, the future and unforeseen
will sooner or later
to the retrocession of tile
two provinces" Yours truly,
ROVER.