New-York tribune., 1896-11-02
THE NEW COALITION.
,, AND FRANCE ARBITERs OF THE
EASTERN QUESTION-ENGLISH
ANOMALIES
London. october n.

.-.o Dailv Chronicle" which is the liveest
-, always the most trustworthy journal In
don has revealed this week under starthng
s,ires "Europes Great Secret 1t Is tire
,'.,omatic history of the Franco-Russiah treaty
uiance given on authority when Is not ue-
S..d hut which is pronounced "unquestionaDie.
h"'N ,a,;ors Of this nature are safe journalistic
a. because il is assumed when they are
40, contradictions and disclaimers VIII
"a1 ,,er, at once from every European capt.
io'O 49,, that the truth Of history Will ultimately
70" ,a;catad This disclosure has the ad-
,oce Of being an open secret which cannot
'. aaried anywhere. Nobody doubts tnat there
secret convention between Russia ana
50 designed as offset and counterpolse
F .ns Triple Alliance 1t is also reasonable
.,srrnttion that the instrument Is ueiensNe i'
ss''". and does not bind Russia to assist France
,-an aggressive campaign for the recovery Oh the
,ost provinces otherwise there Is free
ssld for conjecture. .,,-,x
,rsc,ical operation of the convention are
anu Is,,e The exchange of naval courtesies at
r-s,adt and Touon undoubtedly opened 'ne
''O' Gov formal negotiations which were brought
way ooset,l issue bv NJ de Giers and NJ. Cast
" perer Russia and France have been mu-
tually hepfui IN the
last three years ,
iss' ha doubted however, whether the pup
% the text of the convention wonio
IN the sum of human KNOWLEDGE
aa q, ., real Importance is the temper Oh 'he
"""s or,tries. and their determination 10 sup
w" oh other loyaly in foreign aHars' II
p -, known for three years that 'he nus
no" "a French governments were hoioihs ie
conferences and acting together 'h every
s-.o, ~ European diplomacy. Inc coruiai ie
qu oxsting between the two countries nave
.''~' ..vsaled by the Cars reception IN france
., little consequence whether there Is
:, convention duly signed and scared Inc
..,,ial fact is that the two nations nave as'e'-
80 that they can help each other ana arc
.,a % do IT, on the principle that one soo' '"' "
s.,.,vss another The existence oil ioi "a'
..,renton. limited in scope and opera"on ''i'
,.r,. little additional force to the a'i'a"'e 0e
,re.n Russia and France
THE EFFICIENCY OF TREATIES.
rrss,ies are efficient only 50 long as me sig
rstorv Powers cooperate heartily IN enio'o'"S
Nv and recognize the obligations imposed oy
,hsr The Treaty OF Berlin was negotiated as
. ruronean compact for the permanent aoJus'-
,n.,, of the Eastern Question, but one pro-
,,on .f,sr another has been repudiated ana
violated and the convention as "hoie mas
NOT nravanted a barbarous conspiracy agaihs'
life in the Sultans dominions and the paraSss
.. cha signatorv Powers as coercive agents. Inc
Treaty. has broken down because European re-
sponsibilities have been eVaded- ihere arc
GOOD Russians. good Frenchmen good Austrlahs
and good Germans but there are no good tu-
-onaans Outside the United Kingdom there
has been no genuine sympathy with the AT
-rer;ans and there have been neither courage
nor sincerity in the attempt 10 bring the coHec-
tive influence OF the Powers TO bear upon 'he
atrocious rnisgovernment OF the sultan realm
The virtue and efficiency Of the Treaty OF Der
lin passed out OF it when the Continent Was
divided into two coalitions-the Triple Alliance
and the Franco Russian Alliance. Win Ehsianu
isolated and distrusted by both combinations
The Sultan was licensed to murder because
there were no good Europeans TO arrest and
depose him and to police Constantinople. Inc
signatures to the Treaty of Berlin had not been
withdrawn: the text had not been revised; the
seals were unbroken: but it had ceased to exer-
c,se moral force and to impose any clearly
recognized obligations on the part OF the sultan
and the Powers.
So will II be also with the Franco-Russlan
Treaty. whatever may be its precise terms as a
defensive alliance. II will be operative so long
as the present amicable relations between the
Republic and the Empire remain unclouded. II
the allies happen 10 fall out the treaty Will not
keep them together nor restore friendly reia-
tons. For example, the ultimate destiny or
Jerusalem Is a question which may cause rivalry
and estrangement. The Greek Church VIII de-
sire Russian occupation % the sacred city.
Latin Christianity will be equally ambitious TO
have France occupy Syria and exercise con-
troll over the holy places II Russia and France
In the ultimate partition Of the Sultan's Empire
unable to agree upon the permanent occupa-
ton Of Jerusalem and the historical shrines Of
Christianity. the convention. which has been
signed and is now under seal will not he
spected. 1t will open the way for new rivalries
and jealousies and a rearrangement Of European
alliances and coalitions.
PROFITABLE ARRANGEMENT
More important and decisive than the text Of
this convention is the practical evidence that
France and Russia have been able to form linn
tied partnership, and have found ii profitable
arrangement during the last three years. The
relations between the two countries could hardly
he more cordial than they are and each has been
aided and strengthened by the Dual Alliance.
Russia has become the arbter Of the Eastern
question, and can enter Constantnople when
ever she Is ready TO turn against the Sultan and
'he prestige Of France in Europe, If not fully re-
stored has been vastly increased. The alliance
IS defensive and not retroactive: it does not
p'edse Russia to assist France in reconquering
'he kline provinces. but II embodies a practical
pohcy OF mutual support in all the existing ques
lions OF European diplomacy. The Dual Alliance
mas neutralized and counterbalanced the Triple
A'iance and rendered it impossible for England
70 intervene single-handed in the Eastern ques-
"on bismarck's policy in isolating and humili-
~''ne france has been brought to naught. Bea-
'on'nelds exploit in thwarting Russia at the
.""e OF the last war with Turkey. and in robbing
.er oi the trophies OF victory. has been resent
iuNy avenged In consequence of the close diplo-