Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-02
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
An Explanation by Bismarck is De-
manded.

An Explanation by Bismarck is De-
manded.
New York, Oct 2S.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Paris says: 1.-Two of the
most conservative Paris papers-the
Figaro the representative par excellence
Of the bourgeois of France, and the
Gaulois, the organ of the Royalist soci-
ety-publish sharp attacks on Prince Bis
marck on account of the revelations re-
garding the Russian-German relations in
the Hamburger Nachrichten, for which
he is held responsible.
"The Figaro says that the events in
which Bismarck is concerned now can
only be qualified as posthumous; since
his fall from power he cannot be content
to have no say in the less important af-
fairs of his country. The predominant
idea of Bismark's administration was to
make use of Russia to crush the Western
powers. Napoleon's alliance with Eng
land in the Crimean war for the benefit
of England served as a preteXt for at
tracing Russian influences within the
orbit of the German foreign policy, where
they remained till after 1870.
1.-THE results of the Franco-German
war, terminated by the treaty of Frank
fort, opened Russia's eyes and the views
of the court of ST. Petersburg were
modified on account of the conditions of
the equilibrium and the future inter-
ests.
prince Bismarck, continues the FL
caro-, was the only man in Europe who
would not understand this evolution.
This was really the principal cause of
his fall, for William II. was more far
seeing on this point than his minister
understood it.
eff the affirmations of the Hamburger
Nachrichten to the effect that secret
treaty existed until 1890 between Ger
many and Russia assuring the neutrali-
ty of the latter in the event of a war
with France are false, they are merely
a criminal, disgraceful and impotent ma
neuver; if true, what must Austria
think, who only made an alliance with
Germany on condition that she would be
aided in her rivalry against Turkey?
The Vienna papers demand explanations
which it will be difficult for the German
government to give.
"The Figaro concludes: Prince Bis
marck ought to furnish these explana-
tons, either confessing that he is an
imposter or that he has not foreseen the
consequences of his own policies, which
have been to ALLEVIATE Russian sympa-
thies from German egotism.'
"The Gaulois says Prince Bismarck's
attitude lacks dignity and will minimize
him in the eyes of posterity. If he is
really the author or inspirator of the
Hamburger Nachrichten revelations, he
has a very short memory or speculates
on the credulity or ignorance of his read
ers. He should remember that the al
lance of the three emperors was broken
in 1886, when Alexander III. withdrew
on account of the intrigues to put Ger
man prince on the Bulgarian throne.
He must be aware that it is the SIM
ultaneous publication in Berlin and vi
emma in 1888, of the treaty concluded by
him with Austria in 1889 that decided
Russia and France to come together.
1.-The Gaulois does not see where
Caprivi's responsibility comes in and con-
cludes that the main effect Of the Ham
burger Nachrichten article will be to
weaken the triple alliance, which is al
ready falling to pieces
1.-THE Gaulois adds that it would be
curious and instructive if he whose OBJ
iect was to isolate France should wit
ness the isolation of his own country and
be obliged to admit that he himself con-
tributed to IT,"
London, Oct. ga special dispatch
from Berlin says that the German gov
eminent is profoundly irritated at the
disclosure made by the Hamburger
Nachrichten, Prince Bismarck's organ
on Monday last, in stating that a &
fensive alliance existed between Rus
and Germany during the last ye;
Prince Bismarck was in office. 1t :.
also stated that the government is think
ing of prosecuting the Hamburger Mach
richten and those by whom it is in
spired,' evidently referring to the ex-
chancellor.