New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04

has been contracted within the last hundred
years. and that each Of the three previous al
liances has resulted not in peace between the
two contracting parties, but in war The first
OF these alliances bears the date OF 1891 and the
signature of Car Paul 1t was a treaty OF
alliance, offensive and defensive; yet the fol-
lowing year found the French Marshal Massena
inficting crushing defeat at Zurich on Rus
sian army commanded by Prince Souvarow. In
1907 fresh treaty Of alliance signed at
Iilsit. and subsequently ratified at Erfurt by
the Emperors Napoleon and Alexander Yet in
49, that is to say, five years later Napoleon
invaded Russia the head of the so-called
Grand Army a campaign which eliminated In
the disastrous retreat from Moscow. Then came
the Franco-Russian alliance of 49, which was
followed two years later by French invasion
Of the Crimea According TO the most authorita-
tive statements. the present treaty OF alliance
between France and Russia, so long In process
Of negotiation. was finally signed and sealed
during the visit of Emperor Nicholas to- Paris
last autumn. How long will it he before. in ac-
cordance with past precedent France and Rus
STA are once more arrayed, not side by side as
friends, but face to face as foes. the luminosity
Of the French being intensified hundred-fold
by the memory of the sacrifices OF money and or
dignity that they have made to secure a friend
ship that is at the best Oriental. and therefore
perfdious and untrustworthy?
THE FRANCORUssIAN ALLIANCE.
1t has been stated that the Franco Russian
alliance was completed and definitely signed and
sealed only last autumn. But it had been under
way and in process Of negotiation ever since
1851 For. contrary TO general belief. there was
no understanding of France with Russia prior
TO that date the French statement Of the first
fifteen years OF the third Republic fighting dis
tinctly shy Of any union with Russia. In my
many conversations in 1873 1880 and 1881. with
Gambetta he invariably professed himselfas most
strongly opposed thereto on the ground that IL
was both illogical and impolitic-illogica because
there could be no community Of interest or ideas
between the absolutlsm and tyranny Of the
orient and the most enlightened liberalism or
the Occident mpolitc because no Oriental could
ever be depended upon to subordinate his in
terests to those Of his European friends. ana that
a alliance therefore between Russia and France
must inevitably result in advantage to the
former and in detriment TO the latter.
The manner in which the understanding be-
tween France and Russia was first brought
about in 1887 is sufficiently curious to be placed
on record King Leopold OF Belgium has an
nlegrlmate son we'll known in Brussels Baden,
Spar, Paris and at Monte Carlo as great gam
bier. One day he turned up at Paris and called
upon a gentleman Of the name of NJ. Foucault
de Mondlon who while acting as tutor Of the
late Prince de Chmay. the Minister OF Foreign
Affairs OF Belgium, had rendered such important
services TO the French Foreign ONCE in the way
Of keeping the latter posted that after LEAVING
Brussels he was attached TO the Department
on the Quai d'Orsay in an underlined capacity
The Boron informed NJ. de Mondion that ne re-
quired at once a sum of $4,000 to pay what he
described a debt of honor" falling which he
would be obliged 10 blow out his brains Mon
dion of course declared that he was unable To
lend him any such sum. whereupon the Baron
replied 81 know that, but you can procure II Tor
me"
How"
HE SOLD HIS FATHERS LETTERS
well have here In my possession documents
OF the highest import ance-authentc proof that
Prince Bismarck is playing double game with
Russia and is fooling the Car all along the
line. above all I'm the Bulgarian question. The
Car believes that Bismarck is acting frankly
and loyaly. Here is evidence to the contrary.
II France can show these proofs Of Bismarcks
duplicity to Emperor Alexander, 1t means that
Russia abandons her present alliance with Ger
MANY and Austria, and Will probably contract
one with France"
Thereupon the Baron showed him the docu-
noents which he had surreptitiousy obtained from
the desk Of his father King Leopold They COM
nrjsed letters from Princess Clementine Cmother
Of Prince Ferdinand OF Bulgaria) and from King
charles Of Rumania 10 his sister. the Countess
OF Flanders which she had handed to the King;
likewise letters from Prince Bismarck to Prin-
cess Cementine and to King Charles Of Rumania.
which they had forwarded 10 King Leopold
Mondion took the papers. showed them 10 NJ.
Tockroy who was at that time a member Of the
Goblet Cabinet. At his request and at that OF
his colleague, the Minister OF War, General Bou-
LANCER the well-known banker Hentsch ad
"anced the $50 600 demanded. which was handed
10 the Baron
civ months later these papers were sent by ex-
A Ambassador General Appert. warm and inti-
nate friend of the Car. 10 the latter at COpen-
h.een The General showed them TO the En-
maror who for the first time became aware OF
tha duplcity OF Prince Bismarck. That was the
hndnning of the alliance between France and
p,.aia which the Cretan crisis has now brought
near 10 the breaking point. since RUSSIAN sym.
nsthy is all with the Turkish crescent ana
IRENE" EX-ATTACHE.