The sun., 1896-01-12

State,rs ~ land Hated In Russia by
Government mud Peopic-They Binmc
England for Preventing the Settlement
or tho Turkish Gucstion-Tho Alliance
Between Russia. France, and Germany
Against Enginnd-McctinG of the British
Cabinet to Consider the Matter-The
German Kniscr's Quarrel with England
spccia, cable Despaic' {, The SuS.
LONDON. Jan. 1l.-It is important not to con-
fuse nor tnke too narrow n view OF tho situation
which was tho subject of prolonged discussion
at the meeting OF the British Cabinet to-day.
It should be borne in mind that the recent
events in South Africa are politically IN portant
only in their bcnriug upon the greater European
crisis which they have served TO acccntuate.
1t may be assumed that It was England's posi-
tion before the world at large which occupied
tho attention OF Lord Salisbury and his col
leagues. venture to assume also that tho mo-
mentous question which the British Govern
ment finds itself compelled to decide At the
presen, moment amounts to this: Shall Eng
land abandon her traditional policy OF complete
indcL ndence and enter into an alliance with
oartain foreign powers. or ehall she fight Eu-
IAbpe?
This is no strained and alarmist epitome Of
the situation. 1t is the view taken by all calm
and Intelligent observers of the events Of the
past three years There is no need to point out
TO tho readers OF these dispatches tho facts
which months ngo made 1t evident that con-
certcd movement was in progress which had
= for its object the lowering OF British prestige
throughout the world. 1t has already been par
TALLY successful in tho far East. 1t has para
lived British influence in tho Orient. 1t has
begun its work In Africa. 1t has been
diplom attic and commercial combination. 1t
has used only diplomatic and CONNER
hna heen nothing n
indicate that it included war in its programme.
do not believe. in spite of the events of tho
past few days, that war has been added to its
plan II war comes twill be because England her
self believes that the sword is the only effective
weapon of defence she can use. She has indi-
GATED, this week, by acts which speak far louder
than words, that she is not only prepared. but
willing to use this we, pon unless the campaign
against her is abandoned. In fact, she is fore
ing the game moro rapidly than her opponents
desire.
Russia Is unquestionaby the leader of the
diplomat alliance against Great Britain. Far
from being denied, this s openly admitted. Just
upon this point come the words of one of Rus
sia's greatest statesmen They are contained in
. long interview with the st. Petersburg corre-
spondent Of the Daily Telegraph, which gives
great prominence to them. Tho speaker is not
named. but have assured myself that he is q
to voice the Official sentiments Of Russia. First
he throws tho responsibility for tho Armenian
massacres and tho deadlock of the powers upon
England. He says:
ITO coerce the Sultan VIC should have been
pret&red to 60 to extremes That means war.
War w6sld have meant tho complete overthrow
of the Turkish empire. To break mp the Otto
man empire without first making satisfactory
arrangements for its redistribution would have
49,
tantamount to war. and having seized Turkey
we should have had to fight 1t out between our
selves Immediately afterward.
This Russia was not minded to do. Tho only
way to avoid that would have been to come
TO an understanding with some other powers
beforehand. 80 that the disposal Of Turkeys
remains could not be called In question later on
by those who happen to be dissatisfied.
"Now, this understanding was impossible, and
It was rendered impossible by Englnnd's stand
ing aloof. An arrangement might have been
arrived At with France. But France and Russia
could not afford to fight the rest of Europe for
territory which we can very we'll afford to wait
for. With Germany, too. 1t would have been
possible to como to terms had she not been
hampered with Austria and the Triple Alliance;
but as that put Germany out of court. we
found ourselves II We ventured to take up the
cudgels for the Armenians. on ono Of tho horns
Of . dilemma, either the diplomatic humilia-
tion embodied in Turkeys refusal to listen to
our representations. or else first a war with the
Turks and Kurds, then bloody war with more
than half of Europe"
Coming TO the question Of English isolation,
he says:
81 hold that in modern political Europe isola-
ton or self-suffciency, call It as you will, Is
only for countries like Portugal and Belgium
certainly not for frst-class powers whose
49, A. k~Ny
times ready to unite against one whom they
envy or hate, II that one happens to be single
handed"
Describing the growth OF Russian hatred o
England. his words are:
"Our Teutonic neighbors who. a couple oi
years ago. were unspcakably unpopular ir
Russia, have pulled themselves together. and
by dint of humility. patience, and insinuatinG
ways have contrived to substitute English un'
popularity for that of Germany. With ono oil
two insignificant exceptions, the Russian press
IS virtually preaching q crusade against Eng
land. Every diplomatic snub. every reverse
every difficulty that causes pain. humiliation
or anxiety to Great Britain, Is welcomed BY
our newspapers with almost boisterous Joy
Every move made by English statesmen receive,
the least favorable Interpretation of which 1t II
capable. Base motives are attributed to goot
or Indifferent political acts. In a word. every
thing Is being done to make the name of Eng
land stink in the nostrils OF the Russian
reader"
Tho speaker then openly declared that thu
understanding between Russia, France. anC
Germany is complete. He even says:
France has at our bidding consented I,
shelve her one great political scheme which sh,
hoped through us to realize. 1t was the belle
that the Franco Russian alliance meant tn
speedy recovery OF Alsace and Lorraine, which
Ar.y 1rax ha tn siH opIr rat