The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-13

ton of William the Second, as head ofthe
Triple Alliance, to keep the peace of
Europe against Russia and France. As a
great commercial nation England does not
wish to see the peace of Europe disturbed,
and knowing that in event of great
continental war England would inevitably
become involved soon or late, Lord
Salisbury's government indicates plainly
that its sympathies are with the dreibund,
because its interests lie there. The only
country in Europe that could successfully
invade England Is France, for France
alone has the navy and fiotilla equal to the
task, and against France England is al
ways likely to be in event of great conti-
mental war.
The Tory government of England dis
likes and distrusts the French republic.
Something of this dislike is due to the
ancient temperamental hostility of an
Englishman for Frenchman; something
to old wars; something to present dis
putes, but the chief reason why England
is sympathetic with Germany as the head
of the dreibund is the fact that France and
Russia are secretly pledged to each other.
Between Russia and England there can
never be any real international confidence.
Russia has $1,000 troops within $50 miles of
Herat, and hangs like gathering storm
on the exposed flank of her Indian en-
pire.
We have called it exposed, because
against an army of 100.O 900 Russians the
frontier of India could make but a weak
defense, for England's projected railway
communication with Herat has a long
break of uncompleted line between
that city and Quettah, while Russia
has her Trans-Asian railway COM
pleted so thoroughly that in thirty
days she could fling an overpowering force
against the line of Herat. The first re-
verse of the English arms would be the
signal for all the wild hill tribes to attack
the English, whom these barbarians cor
daily hate; the revolt in Afghanistan
would be followed by risings in India,
which is full of provinces like little Mani
pur, ready to revolt against England at
the flrst opportunity. England in event
of war with Russia would be weak on the
side of India she could be worried, too,
on the side of Farther India by the French,
who occupy Tonquin.
Between Russia and England there can
be no confidence until England abandons
her policy of resolute resistance to Rus
sian occupation of Constantinople, which
England has always opposed because
through it is threatened the security of her
great commercial route to India via the
Mediterranean and Suez canal and the
Red sea. Until England consents to al
low Russia to become great naval power
by giving her supremacy of the Black sea
and the Dardanelles, there can be no real
friendship between them. England will
never do this, and England and Russia are
therefore sure to be secret or open enemies
in any great foreign war, and since France
is sure to be Russis's ally, why then Eng
land, both as matter of sentiment, COM
merciai interest and public safety, is sure
to become at least silent, if not q Sleep
ing partner of the drelband.
There may be no formal alliance ratified.
but there is little doubt that Emperor
William will leave England fully satisfied
that England is in full sympathy with his
purpose to keep the peace of Europe against
Russia and France. England has also i'm
portant interests to guard in Egypt and
the Mediterranean, concerning which she
- likely some day to be at variance with
France and Russia, and it is her interest tn
m he
Eae, az great manufacturing nation, can
not keep neutral if she would in a great
continental war, without damage to her
trade and her political prestige The
easiest way, therefore, for England to keep
the peace of Europe Is to intimate now
clearly that her sympathies are with the
dreibund that seeks to keep the peace, and
against those nations who are disposed to
thr eaten war. The dreibund has soldiers
enough; what it lacks is ships, and with
promise of England's navy to help him.
the Emperor of Germany could afford to
defy that of France.
There is no reasonable doubt that the
Emperor of Germany is sincere in his de-
termination to keep the peace. He guar
anteed it by ratifying in person at Vienna
and Rome the engagements entered upon
by his grandfather, William the First in
the triple alliance, and he has since re-
newed that compact. In former visit to
England he cleared up all misunderstood.
ings between the two countries and the
queen appointed him an admiral of the
British fleet and England strengthened
the coast defenses of Germany by ceding
to her Heligoland; he abandoned the IN
tenable position into which Bismarck had
brought Germany by his quarrel with
Switzerland, and renewed the previous good
relations between the two countries. he
paid visit to the court of the Sultan and
thus strengthened Germany's influence at
Constantinople against that of Russia. he
visited the Car and endeavored 10 con-
vince him of his peaceful purpose, and
dissuaded him from Franco Russo ALI
ance; he tried TO convince France that his
only desire was to establish good relations
between the two countries on the basis of
the status quo, and for the blundsr of his
mothers impvudent visit to Paris he WAS
not responsible, for she failed TO maintain
her inoognito. and its consequences were
disgrace to the populace Of Paris. In his
speech at Dusseldorf, Emperor William
said:
shall be glad II, by the assistance of heaven.
shall be able 10 govern my country in reace
only wish the European peace was living in
my hand, then I would take good care that IL
should never be disturbed However that may
kA I Kill