Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-10
YEAR OF WARS END.
sovereisns and Statesmen of Eu-
rope Anxious to Have Britain
Footioose.

| LONDON. February S.-There are
special reasons just now that cause
rulers and statesmen of Europe to
desire a speedy ending OF the war in
South Africa. The stalking horse OF
Intervention is no longer in evidence,
but from the capitals of all the great
powers indirect pressure is being
brought to bear upon the Boer repre-
sentatives in Holland and Belgium to
avail themselves OF the ony terms OF
peace the British government will
| grant.
The motive is not so much to help
| the burghers as a wsh-which is es-
pecially strong in Vienna and Rome
to free Britain's hands, SO that her
voice may be more potent in the coun-
ellis of Europe. This view of the
situation is entertained In influential
quarters in London.
Ever since the war began the reIa-
tions of the continental powers to-
ward one another have shown symp-
toms of increasing disturbance.
The nicely adjusted equilibrium
which had existed since the triple
and dual alliances were instituted
seems to have been lost
Signs of fresh strain in the Balkan
regions have appeared on the hori-
zon. Europe is never allowed to be
without an eastern crisis for many
years at stretch, and IT would ap-
pear as if the Difficulty In the remot-
er Orient was hardly adjusted before
there is menace OF trouble in re-
gion where to two at least of the
greater powers complications would
be even more unwelcome.
| Rival ambitions in the near East
are again threatening o tax the re-
sources of diplomacy to the utmost
Despite the assurances from Vienna
that Russia and Austria are agreed
it shall not imperil European peace
these two powers are by no means
agreed as to the methods OF carry
ing out their self-appointed task as
guardians of the peace in the Balk-
ans. No secret is made of the fact
that their views on this point are al
most diametrically opposed. and it
is matter of common note that Aus
tria is trying to secure Britain's sup
port in her policy.
Meanwhile the new German tariff
threatens the very existence of the
dreibund and the speech Sunday
night of Prince Won Euenburg. the
kaiser's friend and ambassador at
Vienna. is interpreted by many good
judges as all but foreshadowing the
doom of that famous pact
AS for leaving Italy out in the
cold" recent utterances of Italian
statesmen do not indicate a burning
desire to renew the alliance with the
two German states. 1t is strongly
felt at Rome that no renewal of the
political convention should be toler-
ated which did not also confer sub
stantial commercial advantages on
all the members of the combination.
Unless some compensating benefits
are bestowed upon Italy, she may de-
cline to renew the arrangement.
France. it is certain, can, if she
pleases, offer to Italy commercial in
ducements of the most alluring char
acter
By the suggestion that the drei-
bund, long the dominating factor in
continental politics, may be elimin-
ated vista of wide possibilities is
opened up. 1t is not too much to
say that there is at least a prospect
that a new triple alliance on a alter
ed footing might be constructed or a
different grouping of the whole con
tinental system be evolved.
This sentiment has repeatedly
found expession in German and Aus
troHungarian official circles. 1t is
one of the common-places of the Ital-
ian press.
1t Is the hope that Great Britain $
voice might introduce a calming and
moderating influence into these dis
tracted councils which underlies the
nervous anxiety of the continent to
see an end of the Boer war. Even
the Russian journals begin to sing
the tune of Vienna and Rome.
"If by some means, no matter
what" says the Novoe Vremya, "an
Africa war. then, and then only.
would things in Europe return to the
paths of peace from which the events
of the past two years have forced
them far astray."
Britain, howef er. will not listen to
the siren song of those who would
tempt her, even when the war is out
of the way, to become involved in
the calculations and combinations of
the continent. She replies to all
such seductive appeals;
With dual or triple or quadruple
leagues and alliances, whatever their
| on n. n
attempts to maintain the balance of
power or to secure an equilibrium of
forces among the great naval and
military states of the continent. We
have elected to stand alone SO far as
Europe is concerned. Isolation
with all its drawbacks, has at least
one advantage. 1t will probably pre-
vent us from being dragged into war
over territorial ambitions or intern
| tiODal lea lousips in which We have