The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-01
will There BE a New Alignment OF
the European Powers?

Although Emperor WILLIAM III. denies
that he has any present intention OF ten
dering his good Offices with view OF
ending the Russian-Japanese war, it by
no means follows that he might not try
to stop the conflict II the Cars desire
that he should do so were privately made
known to him. There is no doubt that
the impression prevails in several Euro
pean capitals that one outcome OF the
events in the Far East will be renewal
of the former intimate relations between
the st. Petersburg and Berlin Govern
ments, a renewal which, of course,
implies remuneration of the existing
alliance between Russia and France.
Such is the purport of kilograms received
simultaneously from Stockholm, st.
Petersburg and Vienna.
According to a Swedish statesman,
who is known to be in constant commune
cation with high Russian official, the
Kasers readiness to favor the Car in
the Far East amounts to passion, while
the Cars Cabinet is on it's part, so much
pleased with Germany's treatment OF
Russia during the war that it is disposed
to render corresponding services to
Germany in Europe, Asia Minor and
China. From st. Petersburg it is reported
that Russia's willingness to welcome
formal agreement to cooperate every
where with Germany is indisputable.
The old distrust Of the Radicals who
control the French Republic, a distrust
that would DO felt instinctively by up
holders of an autocratic regime, is said
TO be reviving. Some of the Cars most
influential advisers fear that a political
change may occur at any hour in France
that would rob Russia's alliance with
that Power of all value. The change
apprehended is the displacement OF the
Combes Government by new radical
combination of which CLEMENCEAU, an
avowed snd implaoable enemy of Russia,
would be the head.
=. We may add that Russia, having Dor
rowed about all the money that can be
extracted from France, can look for few
further pecuniary favors from that
country. The German money box, on
the other hand, is as yet untapped,
while the Berlin Government is less vul-
nerable to democratic influences and
less inclined to yield to Establishments
on the part Of Great Britain. We note
finally that the belief is current in Vienna
that while France is nominally the ally
OF Russia it is Germany that Russia
really relies upon as mainstay in the
hour of difficulty. An obvious reason
for the reliance is the consciousness that
Russia and Prussia are jointly interested
in the repression OF the Polish aspiration
for independence. They have both been
guilty of an atrocious crime against Po-
land, and they have not tried, as Austria
has, to absolve themselves by granting
almost unlimited autonomy to Polish
subjects. 1t is pointed out in Vienna
that in spite of Russa's official disavowal
of any purpose to discriminate against
British and in favor of German vessels
the Cars war flag continues to brighten
British commerce, to raise the rates OF
British marine insurance and to fill the
holds Of German ships.
The truth, Of course, is that an alliance
between the most democratic and the
most despotic government on the Euro
pean Continent has been regarded from
the outset by intelligent onlookers as
artificial, unnatural and inevitably I'M
stable. The alliance never had any
foundation, except, on the one hand, the
panic caused in France by the fear Of
isolation, and on the other, the exaspera-
ton provoked at st. Petersburg by the
knowledge that it was with BIsMARcKs
connivance that the Treaty Of San Ste
fano, by which Russia had been brought
within sight of her long coveted bourne.
Constantinople, had been torn up at
the Congress Of Berlin. Contributory
also, was the greedy design of Russian
bureaucrats to pick the pockets of
thrifty Frenchmen. The situation is now
changed materially. France, having lent
many hundreds of millions of dollars
to her Unsuitable ally, is now inclined or
compelled to tighten her pursestrings
Moreover, the establishment Of Extremely
friendly relations with England should
render it by-and-by comparatively easy
to dissuade Austria and Italy from re-
newing the Triple Alliance. Indeed, the
last named country is already on the
most cordial terms with France.
The combination which LOUIS Ma