The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02
Tho Perturbed Condition OF the
World.

The Perturbed Condition OF the
World.
Evidently the summer of 1905, like that
of 1870, is not destined to be ranked in
the category OF silly seasons Indeed,
the present area of conflict. commotion
and foreboding is much wider than was
that affected by the Franco German war.
Not only is a military catastrophe i'm
minent In Manchuria. but the rumbling
of revolution may be heard in European
Russia, and omens OF internal disorder
or international friction are visible in the
Ottoman Empire, in Morocco. in Austria
Hungary and in Scandinavia, while,
although tho recent tension between
Germany and France seems for the mo-
ment relaxed it is scarcely likely that the
restless ambition Of Emperor WILLIAM
II. will long remain quiescent. 1t would
surprise no close student Of events. II
the current twelvemonth should figure
in history as the @dnnns rntrdbiits' which
Witnessed not only revival Of Asiatio
prestige. but also the most memorable
example of nations regeneration which
has been beheld in Europe since the
States-Geperal met at Versailles.
There is reason to believe that the
Balfour Government, attentive to Lord
KITCHENER warning OF the insecurity
Of British Intta, may seek to transform
the existing restricted alliance with
Japan into a much closer league for
reciprocal support, which would place at
EnRland's disposal an army of Japanese
veterans, in the dreaded event OF a Rus
sian advance southwark from central
Asia. In spite of the fact that Marquis
ITO formerly advised the Mikado to enter
into an understanding with the Gear, 1t is
now probable that the Toxic Govern
ment would prefer coalition with Great
Britain, which, by assuring to Japan
permanent and unc hallenged ascendency
in Far Eastern waters, would leave her at
liberty to prosecute her program OF ag-
prandizement on the Asiatic coast OF the
Pacific. The erasure OF Russia from the
lat of Pacific Powers and the insuper-
able obstruction offered by an Anglo
Japanese combination to her procur-
ing a foothold on the Persian Gulf or
Indian Ocean, would compel her to fall
back on her original hope of expansion in
southeastern Europe, hope which
England. at present principally con-
cerned to check the designs imputed to
the German Emperor, might no longer
be disposed to Illustrate. We may be
pretty certain that the Ottoman Sultan,
who is by no means lacking in shrewd-
ness, has begun to measure the probable
results OF Russia's recoil from Asia upon
her European base, and to calculate the
chances of his keeping Constantnope
without the help OF British warships.
His coreligionist, MULAI ABDUL AzIz,
marking the signs that Germany, in con-
alteration of certain assurances, may
consent after all to recognize the moral
right OF France to exercise tutelary
function In the Moroccan dominions, is
doubtless haunted with misgiving lest
in the fate of the Khedive he may read
his own destiny.
It il quite within the bounds of posi-
bility that the ties connecting the Cis-
Lothian monarchy with the Kingdom of
Hungary, ties strained already nearly to
the breaking point, will be snapped during
the present summer, and the i'll assorted
union of the Hapsburg possessions I'M
dergo violent disruption. The Hun
garian Diet has been prorogued, and the
Ministry dd interim, appointed in the
teeth of majority of the popular cham
Der, is called upon to govern under cir
cumstances of extraordinary difficulty,
for any attempt on its part to coerce
delinquent taxpayers or rncalctrant
conscripts would violate constitutional
guarantees, and might provoke wide
spread instruction, There have been
OF late indications that, in the event of
the dsintegration Of the dominions of
: Francis JOSEPH, the German-speaking
provinces would gravitate quickly to the
German Empire, and that Italy might
make a resolute attempt to incorporate
Trieste and the Trentino. 1t used to be
taken for granted that redistribution Of
the territories tackled together under the
Hapsburg Crown would be postponed
.-:atil after the decease of the present
Emperor, but it now looks as if the con-
stitutional crisis imminent in Hungary
might precpitate the process.
For the first time, also, in many a dec
ade the Scandinavian peninsula has be-
come an object of international attention
The resentful spirit in which Norway's
secession was discussed by many infu-
entail members of the Swedish Riksdag,
when it met the other day at Stockholm,
renders il by no means certain that the
ocnciliatory program Of King OSCARS