New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
ENGLAND, FRANcE AND RUssEA.

ENGLAND, FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
Count Boni de Castellane, who takes some re-
freshngly straightforward and statesmanlike
views of French affairs. especially of foreign re-
lations. made the other day, in advance of the
arbitral decision at Paris. suggestive comment
upon the Anglo-RuSsian North Sea incident and
the amicable progress of negotiations for its set
tlement as affOrding opportunity for an Anglo
Russian apprOachment to be effected through the
benevolent mediation of France, now practically
the next friend of each of those powers and
at the same time for battling what he regards
as the sinister designs and menacingly ambitious
dreams of German hegemony. In his view Ger
many has long been playing the part of an inter
national MephistOpheles, tempting to their loss
If not their hopeless ruin, power after power
that seemed TO stand in the way of German sll-
premacy. Thus it was at Germany's prompt
ings that France entered upon the Tonduin
Tunis and Madagascar campaigns involving
herself in colonial complications so as large
ly to paralyze her strength at home, and it was
through the same marplot inspiration that the
triple league was formed against Japan at the
end of the Chinese War and that Russia was
led into her Manchurian and Corean aggressions
making inevitable the conflict with Japan which
mas so seriously impaired the military pres
tge of the Northern Empire. Now he thinks
Germany aims at completing that work by
transforming the Franco-Russian alliance into
an antt-English engine of war. and he argues
that the two powers which have already suf-
fered from Germany's malign Vaccinations
should not again be misled by her. but should
adopt course the reverse of that which she
suggests, and, by establishing triple approach
ment of England, France and Russia. thwart
the schemes of the would-be arbiter of Europe
With full allowance for Count Boni de CasteI-
lanes animosity and perhaps superSuspicious-
ness toward Germany, it will be widely con-
ceded that there is much truth in his view of
the case. 1t is an undisputed item of record
that Germany was Frances monitor in Tunis
and Tonquin. So much is said to have been
practically admitted by N. Ferry Also, there is
little doubt that Germany was the prime mover
in despoiling Japan of her fruits of victory and
in getting Russia into the Manchurian enterprise
which has proved so costly to her The question
of motive is not so easily answered. We have
peen inclined to attribute such action on Ger
many S part not to malice against her neigh
bors but rather to ambition for herself She
urged them into colonial cOnquests, that is to
say, in order that she herself might have pre-
text and vindicatiOn for such cOnquests If
she could get France TO seize Tuns and Ton
quin, she could herself take East and West
Africa and the islands of the Pacific and if she
could lead Russia down TO Port Arthur she
could establish herself at Kiao-ChOw. 1t was a
case of do ut des, more than of deliberate in
tent to lead neighbOrs into trOuble and indeed
the Herrero business looks as though Germany
had thus incurred troubles of her own almost
comparable with those which have befallen her
neighbors. Moreover, if Germany did have ul-
terror designs against the welfare of other pow
ers, we only say she was doing what it has
been common for nations TO do from immemOriai
time.
fron oil
Count Boni de CastelIanes discussion of the
case is admirable, and might be Immediately
practicable were it not for one thing. The two
fundamental facts are these: That England and
France have at last reached genuine approach
ment which is not merely official but popular,
and that in the North Sea affair England and
Russia have shown themselves capable of deal
ing with most menacing cGSRS beIit in a reason
able and amicable spirit. Naturally the ques-
ton arises if it would not be possible. through
the good offices Of their Gallic mutual friend,
for them thus TO adjust all points of difference
between them, 10 cultivate the community of
interests which beyond doubt largely exists be-
tween them and thus TO effect an approachment
similar TO that which has so happily been estab-
lished between France and England. Entirely
apart from any question of thwartng German
hegemOnic ambitions. such a consummation
would be cause for general and sincere gratitica-
ton an immeasurable confirmation of Euro
pean peace, and means of promoting the
rational and equitable advance of civilization
in those parts of the world which are or are to
be, under European tutelage.
There is, we have said. one thing in the way
of an immediate realization of Count Boni de
Castelianes engaging proposition. Perhaps we
might say there two. The first is the fac+
that Russia is now waging war against Eng
lands ally. The Anglo-Japanese alliance must
necessarily last at least until the end of this
war and so long as the war lasts it will mani
festly be impossible for England to enter into
more than formal relations with Russia She
has thus far manifested most praiseworthv
degree of neutrality i'll trying circumstances.
and has shown real friendship and sympathv in
more than one respect Further than that. how
ever. loyalty 10 her undertaking with japan