New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-12
THE hNTL.FRENOH ALLIANCE.


General Wolseley made strategicai use Oh
newspaper correspondents during the Egyp-
tan campaign. Arriving at Alexandra, where
his army was concentrated in readiness Tor ac-
tive operations, he could think of no better way
to mislead the enemy in regard to his plan OF cam
paign than to dupe the whole body of war cor
RESPONDENTS. He contrived, therefore, to convey
to the London journals the impression that
the main attack was be made close at hand at
Aboukir, and this intelligence was speedily
teleeraphed to Arabs headquarters by way OF
Constantinople; and the change of base to tho
banks of the Canal was effected with startling
rapdity, the enemy being utterly unprepared
for an advance from that quarter. Having used
the correspondents at tho outset for purposes OF
his own, General Wolseley systematically an
ticipated their dispatches during the
remainder of the campaign by graphic
official bulletins sent whenever there was
any real news to be told Now there
is reason to believe that not only the ENJOYS
Extraordinary, but also the Ministers Resident
of the Press IN the Continental Capitals, arc
dealt with on the same general plan. Diploma
fists and foreign officers have their regulations
| for energy and sagacity which must be sus-
tanned at all hazards, and leader-writers and
correspondents are convenient agencies for
creating impressions, which may OF may not
be true, or for diverting public atten-
| ton in stagnant periods of national life.
Whenever there are disclosures of genuine
| Importance to make, Bismarck will give en-
phasis to his own phrases and epigrams,
| Kalnoky and Mancin will offer their own e1-
plantations to Delegation or Parliament. But
| alike in dull times and in critical emergencies,
| the diplomatists make a systematic use of the
agencies of the Press, seeking to influence now
| a home Legislature and again the public senti-
| ment of q foreign Power, and not hestating
| for purposes of their own to deceive leader
| writer or correspondent, and in this way to
mislead parties, governments and nations.
The rumors respecting the defensive ALI
ance between Germany, Austria and Italy
against France may illustrate this new habit
| of diplomatsts. The Italian Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, knowing that tho popularity
of any Government in his country must de-
pend mainly upon an adherence to the tradi-
tiona policy of ceascless activity on the
Continent. finds it convenient for party pur-
poses to let the nation know that he
is not conducting diplomacy of sterile
inaction, but Is adding TO the prestige
of the Foreign Office. The conception OF an
alliance implying close understanding with
the two strongest Powers of the Continent is
good device for conciating public sentiment
in Italy. For season the Roman correspond
ents can talk of nothing else. In Germany
these rumors OF q defensive alliance are
speedily confirmed by one of series of jour
nails which are credited with being "inspired'
at certain seasons with Bismarcks ideas.
The Chancellor has to sustain his reputation
as the arbiter of the destnes of the Continent,
and he cannot allow the impression to prevail
that anything of Importance is on foot with
out his knowledge or approval. The rum0rs
are accordingly emphasized by the leader
writer, and the additional information is
youchsafed that the alliance has been formed
against that hot bed of democratic discomfort
and anarchica change-the French Republic.
That there is better understanding between
the Governments cannot be questioned. That
there is formal alliance or any movement OF
startling significance is grossly improbable.
Apparently It has been forgotten by the anna
teur dpomatists that it is scarcely year
ago that Bismarck made most con-
temptuous reference to the position OF
Italy in Europe. deprecating an alliance
with country that was "fast sliding
by the incline of Liberalism toward Republic
canism" During the twevemonth the nation
has been working out with signal success the
| complex questions of revenue, debt-paying
| and industrial progress, which seem to have
| special interest for communities that are i'm
bued with democratic feeling. The redemption
| of an irredeemable currency, to be effected this
spring. is one of those financial achievements
which demonstrate practical talents OF
| republican order. The elections have shown
| that there is no reaction against Liberal
ism that is progressive to the verge of Rad
calism. In short, nothing has happened no
| tendency has been disclosed, which tends to
| modify Bismarck's dstrust of Italy as a nation
| too republican III spirit for close companion
| ship with the military empires of the CONT
| nent. Yet the irresponsible diplomatists of
| the Press would have the Continent be-
| ieve that such an alliance has been
| formed as a means of common defence
| against France-a nation that has got
| 70 the bottom of "thc incline of Liberalism to-
| ward Republcaulsm formed, too, few
| months after the death of the only Frenchman
who had any personal influence with the army
and whose political policy was not sluggshly
pacific.
These rumors of Continental alliance
against the Republic excite mingled feelings of
ridicule and resentment in Paris. France, while
maintaining the largest and most expensive mill
tary establishment in Europe, was never more
pacific so far as the interests of the Cont
nent are concerned, than at present. AT the
ends of the earth, in Madagascar on the Congo,
or in Tonqun consular agents may be sup
portedin vicious policy of adventure and greed,
but in Europe the Republic implies diplomatic
inaction and abstention from equivocal
alliances. The constituencies have impressed
their desire for peace upon the Deputies, and