The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-11-17
IT'S A DRAWING CARD
An Unusually Large Attendance in
the German ReichStag.
REVELATIONS BY BISMARCK
subject of Debate by Hohenlohe. J.
Hompresch and Won Bleber-
stein-Count II erbert on Hand
to Defend his Father.

Berlin. Nov. 16.-In anticipation OF a
statement from the imperial chancel-
lor, Prince Hohenlohe. on the subject
Of the revelations made by Prince Bis
marck through his organ, the Ham
burger Nachrichten, regarding the Sc
cret treaty which existed between Rus
sia and Germany from 1854 to 1880,
there was a large attendance in the
reichstag to-day. Among those pres
ent was Count Herbert Bismarck, eld-
est son of the ex-chancellor. who. II
was rumored. was to take an active
part In the debate and defend his faith
er against attacks.
Count Won HOnpresch. the centrist
leader. introduced an Interpolation.
notice of which was given "Wednesday
last. In brief, the question was: Did
the secret convention between Russia
and Germany exist up to $780, ana n
so, why was II not prolonged finally
have the recent disclosures had an in
fluence upon the drelbund and Ger
many's relations with the other pow
ers.
In reply. Prince Hohenlohe said: "In
regard to the negotiations between
Russia and Germany from 1887 to 1890,
ii was agreed at the time that abso-
point of time when this obligation
ceased cannot, in consequence, be de-
fined by us alone. |. therefore, for the
moment. am not In a position to give
official information concerning the re-
suit of those negotiations. As regards
the tendency Of the German policy to-
wards Russia since the spring of 1890
II Is equally impossible TO give an ex-
haustive reply so long as that obliga-
tion continues and i leave II to the
foreign secretary, who took part in the
deliberations, to say what can be said
in that respect.
"As to the effect the recent publlca-
tiors have had upon the position OF
Germany In the dreibund and her rela-
tions with the other European powers,
/ am glad to he able to declare that
the cloud of distrust which at the first
moment was observable among some
classes Of the population of those coun-
tries has again disappeared and our re-
lations with our allies is marked now,
as before, by absolute mutual conf
dence. In the same way our relations
with Russia have never for q moment
ceased to be good and friendly"
The minister for foreign affairs, Bar
on Won Bieberstein, said: Wars which
are av0wedly wars OF aggression are
things OF the past, even between ma
tions that believe they have reasons
to be dissatisfied with their lot. There
exists at the present time so great a
desire for peace, increased by the gem
eral system of obligatory military SER
vice and dread of the effects OF mod
ern warfare, that every government
which Is resolved to make war will use
every e.,ort for the sake Of its people
to avoid the odium Of being the ag-
gressor. There is more freedom now
adays to discuss the question as to
who Is responsible for war. This feel
ing cannot be set down in clauses. 1t
must be acquired, maintained and
cultivated. 1t does not have Its birth
in treaties nor does IL necessarily cease
to exist on the expiration of the treaty.
1t Is based In the case of the govern
ments as well as the governed. upon
the knowledge that the maintenance
of the respective position Of the allies
among the powers Is their common In
terest and upon the mutual convictions
that what one asks IL Is itself prepared
to grant under given circumstances.
These are the factors determining
the actual value of treaties. In the
recent revelations II was asserted that
until 1890 q complete Russo-German
entente existed by which that In the
event either was attacked, the other
would maintain benevolent neutrality.
Whether this Is correct / cannot say.
but l know that clause ! Of our treaty
with Austria pledges us In the event
of a Russian attack to hasten to the
aid of Austria with our whole military
power. But II the revelations are cor
rect We might be placed in the posi-
tion that in the event of war between
our two eastern allies We should be
asked on one side to maintain benevo-
lent neutrality and on the other To
support with all our military strength
We should then have to decide who
was attacked and who was the at
tacker. This suggestion. however. is
only valuable as an illustration.
when the Austro-German treaty OF
1879 was concluded a special provision
stipulated that In spite of the secrecy
of the treaty IL might be communi-
Gated confidently to Russia This CON-
fhunication was duly made. in order to
avert possible difficulties and mlsun-
derstandings arising out of condi-
tional secrecy. IL Caprivi took another
view OF the reinsurance, IL he scented
dangers In unconditional secrecy oi
considered II even doubtful whether
the guarantees of peace might not
thereby be lessened, this might be
ground for criticising his opposing oi
this view. The notion that English In
fiuence was the inconceivable ground
which induced Caprivl on that account
not to renew the treaty with Russia
| Is uninteu.gible.
The course Of time has taught us
that the omission to rerew the treaty
has not led TO diminished peace guar.
antees for Germany. Did the acute
danger OF war arise at any time In
these years? No. II Is said the policy
embittered our relations with Russia
I resist the temptation to compare oul
| relations with that country before anc
| after 1890. Comparison is unnecessary
| and useless. and II will always redounc
to the honor OF Prince Bismarck tha
he knew how. In difficult times. Il
maintain our relations with Russia OF
a good and friendly footing. make us'
| OF them In case of war and serve in
| directly to the maintenance of peace
| His theory Will place these services In
| a still clearer light than | have dom
| to-day. tCheers). But IL seems like at
| tempting TO deprecate and undervalu'
| Prince Bismarck's services to asser
| that prior to 1890 these relations onl!
rested on the fragile pedestal OF agree
ments which needed to be renewed
| from time 10 time. our relations wli
| Russia now rest upon a firuer basis
on the friendship of the reigning fam
lies. on the love Of peace Of the SOW