The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-16

British Parliament would not sanction a
compact which would force England to CO.
operate with Germany upon the outbreak OF
a new Franco-German war. What Is quite
as much to the point, 1t would not be for
Germany's interest, according to the organ
of the ex-Chancellor, TO be compelled to
participate in every quarrel that might
break out between England and Russia
about China or Afghanlstan. H. as BIS
MARCK declared in the Reichstag, the Ger
man empire would not fight for Bulgaria,
she certainly would not take up arms TO
settle a Central Asian question.
BISMARCK casts well-deserved ridicule on
the assertion OF the Rreus-Zeitung that the
present cordial relations Of the British and
German courts must have powerful elect
on the political situation. He points out
that whatever may be the personal influence
OF Kaiser WILLIAM ii. on the foreign policy
OF Germany, Queen VICTORIA has no voice
at all in determining the foreign policy OF
England. Tho attempt OF the late Prince
ALBERT to claim In the Queens name some
share in the management OF foreign affairs,
was resisted and eventually baf1led by Lord
PALMERsToN; and the experiment has never
been renewed since the death OF the Prince
Consort. In the present temper OF the Eng
lish people, the knowledge that the court
had exerted pressure in favor OF treaty
would be fatal to it's ratification. II the
Queen, who, we believe, never reads the
newspapers, is blind to the conditions upon
which monarchy Is still tolerated in Eng
land, we may be certain that the Prince OF
WALES is fully alive to them. The fact that
the German Emperor is Queen V1oToRIA's
grandson would not have pins weight In
deciding the attitude OF England toward
Germany in the case OF a Continental war.
This Is true even OF the state Of things
under Tory Ministry, although Lord SAILS
BURY, nheriting the views OF Lord BEA-
CoNsFIELD, is willing enough to gain the
good will of Germany, provided he does not
have to pay too much for 1t. He Is ready to
forego in Germany's favor some OF Eng
lands pretensions to territory In East Africa,
in return for diplomatic support OF Eng
lands occupation Of Egypt, to which France
80 strenuously objects But as to rendering
Germany any aid In Continental quarrels,
Lord SALISBURY understands the feelings
and interests of his countrymen too well to
even listen to such proposition. The belief
that he had entertained it would lead to his
immediate overthrow In Parliament. 1t Is
doubtful whether even the present friendly
with regard to East Africa
will survive Mr.. GLADsToNR's return to
power. 1t is no secret that through
out the Franco-German contest Mr.
G1ADsToNE's sympathies were with the
vanquished nation. So far, moreover, is he
from being Russophobist that II he had to
choose between Russia and Germany, he
would probably prefer the former as an ally.
He has not been so well treated by Queen
VICTORIA as to have any motive to defer to
her predictions. and the fact that the
young German Kaiser Is her grandson would
count for nothing in his mind.
We may assume with perfect confidence
that whichever political party happens to be
in power in England during the next CONT
mental war, that country will observe pol
icy OF strict neutrality between the combat
ants. Such an attitude on her part will, Of
course, leave the Italian peninsula at the
mercy OF the French navy; but King HUM
BERrs Government should have thought of
this before conserving to ally itself with
Germany and Austria.