The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-12
THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

army bill in the German relchstag on
| Saturday last makes it per fectly clear that
| the government of Germany believes that
| great war is impending in Europe.
| Chancellor Caprivi said the passage of
| the army bill was necessary for the con-
| tinued existence of Germany, while the
| minister of war in introducing the bill,
| declared that Germany must be pre-
| pared to enter at any moment into final
| war which would dwarf all preceding wars
| in the magnitude OF the forces engaged
| and Of the issues to be decided. Other
| nations were making preparations for a
mighty struggle that might at any time
| begin"
These declarations in regard to the al
most certainty of great European war at
an early date produced profound i'm
| preston. This is the German view and at
| titude; what is that of France and Russia,
| the great powers whose onslaught Ger
many officially confesses she expects
sooner or later to confront2 The most
acute and intelligent French observers of
| the state of Europe, while they do not ex-
| pect war immediately and believe the con-
| fiict may not take place for several years,
nevertheless concur in the opinion that
| the situation is one of such extreme
| delicacy that q war might be precipitated
| by an unforeseen accident at almost any
| moment.
| Russia, by placing herself at the side of
| France, has created a counterba ance to
| the alliance of Germany with Austria and
! Italy. The effect OF this practical, though
| not formal alliance of Russia with France
is seen in the return to pacific counsels
| at Vienna. Austria knows that in event
| of war she has nothing to gain and every
| thing to lose. II France ana Russia
| should be victorious the Austrian empire
would be blotted from the map of Europe.
| Russia would surely absorb all of Austria's
Slav provinces and populations, as we'll as
all of Turkey in Europe, and there would
| be nothing left for the German provinces
and populations of Austria but to ask in
corporation into the German Empire. In
event of victory Germany would gain
much; she would be in position to alb
sorb the German speaking provinces OF
| Russia, Courland and Lithuania, and
Italy might gain something, as she
is really more important ally to
| Germany than Austria, since Italy
could be made great naval power. while
| Austria, with single seaport of Trieste.
could not furnish large population Of
seafaring men such as Italy represents.
France, at present. with sardonic cool
ness bides her time; she has not aban-
doned the hope that some day. soon or
| late. Alsace and Lorraine will again come
under the French flag, but she hopes that
this may come about through diplomacy
and not necessarily through war, knowing
as she does that the great and growing
| Socialist party in Germany openly favor
| the peaceful return by Germany of these
conquered provinces to France. France is
ready for war and confident in the excel
lence of her magnificent preparation.
| but she does nos desire to trouble
the peace of Europe. Russia is dis
! posed to keep the peace, for the
terrible famine of last winter and the
| cholera have increased her expenses,
and compelled policy of internal econ
omy and external peace. Italy needs
| peace, and the dominant party in her gov
ernment desires to rrolong the twenty-five
| years of peace that Europe has enjoyed
| since 1870.
While these acute French observers of
| European politics concede that no nation
| in Europe desires war; that all the great
| powers greatly prefer peace, nevertheless
they point out that the situation remains
restless and uneasy. They admit that the
! question of Alsace and Lorraine has
ceased to be the great danger; that it is
| not likely to fire the magazine and yet
they confess that the least unexpected
incident might precipitate tremendous
conflict, which will spread over all Europe
with the single exception of Spain. This
war blizzard is likely TO begin on the
Balkan peninsula. The treaty of Berlin
In 1878 forced Russia IN renounce the
diree! proteetorate over Turkey in Europe,
which she had fairly won by her vic
tory over Turkey in iS77-.S. This region
Russia thinks belongs 10 her rightfullv
because Of her Siavonic predominance.
! Russia is irrecoDCiably hos tile to Austria
for having acquired through the Berlin
congress a protectorate over Bosnia and
Herzegovina, which she has changed into
permanent occupation. Russia has been
| further incensed by the placing on the
throne of Bulgaria German prince. who
is sustained by the sympathy and taeit
| support of both Austria and Germany.
| and who IS bur a nominal vassal OF Tur.
! Key. The car sees that il Bulgaria be-
| comes al independent monarchy through
the favor of Austria and Germany j!
would become an instrument OF the Triple
Alliance tha; created il aud an anti-Rus-
sian element IN the European balance
Russia has already shown her resent
ment st the manifestation OF the indie,
pendent intentions OF the Bulgarian gov.
eminent by sending a note 10 the Porte
telling her that the existing regime in
Bulgaria Is enc Of usI-pation and contrary
IL the treaty Of Berlin, without having
the appreciation 81 Russia, and that il
vas not officially recognized by the con.
tracing powers of the said treaty.
The Russian Rote further reminded Tur
key Of tie onsegUsnees TO which she