The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-21
Only an Understanding.

After tho visit OF the French fleet to
Cronstadt report was for some time cur
rent that treaty, brought by Admiral
GERvA1s, had been signed by the Cars
Ministers, and. to be binding. needed only
the autocrat's own signature From the
outset the rumor met with no credencc from
the Temps. one OF the best informed Paris
newspapers. or from tho Grashdani,, the
organ OF the Russian nobility The exist
bnce OF such q treaty has since been de-
MED in unequivocal terms by ST. Peters
burg journal Of semi-official authority.
1t Is interesting to compare the remarks Of
the Temps and the Grashdanin upon this
Subject. Tho former newspaper. which is
supposed to obtain intelligence directly from
tho French Foreign Office. declares that be-
tween France and Russia there is no def
nitely arranged plan, no authenticated al
lance. The combination, however, OF the
three central powers has driven the French
and Russian Governments to an under
standing, which although not embodied in
writing, is none the less real. Nowhere in
Europe or Asia have Russia and France
hostile interests, and they have a common
interest OF supreme importance, that
namely. Of maintaining European equilib-
rum and peace. 1t is in this sense only, ac-
cording to the Temps, that we may speak OF
. Franco Russian alliance. Thus attenu-
ated, the political relation seems doubtless a
vague and untrustworthy thing; nevcrthe-
less 1t Is, for better or worse something TO
be taken into international calculations
Under certain conditions it may ripcn into n
treaty, although at present it is onlya treaty
In the germ.
Tho organ OF the Russian nobility, the
Grashdanin, not only discredits the exist
ence of definite coalition between France
and Russia. but expresses the conviction
that no such alliance ought to be made. 1t
says that the facts OF history have never
been able to produce anything but war be-
tween France and Russia. and that with
such past In their blood it is impossible
that the two countries should become allies
1t goes on to make other objections to Il
Franco-Russian league. France it
says. ITO its great misfortune, is the
personiflcation Of Western civilization;
Russia, to its great happiness. is power
full and barbarous people; the French
man. having reached the apoIce Of
civilization. has in his flesh and blood II
hatred OF war; we saw it in 1870. No one
can imagine that the French lack courage.
and yet they afforded the example of an
army succumbing without battle" With
much complacency the Grashdanm pro-
ceeds to quote on the same side NJ, BAR
THELEMY ST. HILAIRE The latter has said
that II, to defend their own interests, his
countrymen did not wish to light to the
death. and preferred peace with its harsh
conditions. 1t is scarcely possible that
twenty yesrs later. when decidedly more
civilized, thy could wish to fight in con-
junction viii the barbarous Russians and
in their behalf. According to the Crash
DAMN. Russians ought to be convinced that
there is not an intelligent man in western or
central Europe who does not in his heart re-
gard tnem as his mortal enemies. his bug
bears. The result Of this secret feeling is
that Russia has always been betrayed when-
ever she has sought allies in Europe.