Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-28
NEW ALIGNMENT OF POWERS
Speech Of Gar Forecasts Alliance Of
Russia and Germany.
RELATIONS WITH FRANCE LUNwAUs
Entente Between Britops and Franks
MAKES Paris Government indie
pendent of siav
support.

ST PETERSBURG, Jan. IA new
grouping OF the powers Of Europe, with
Germany and Russia arrayed side by side
IN the closest friendship and the mis-
matched alliance Of the empire with re-
publican France tagging in the rear, was
forecasted by the words OF Emperor Mich
olas at a gala luncheon at Tsarskoe Selo
today in honor Of Emperor Williams birth
day.
Rising to his feet before brilliant COM
pany OF Russian and German representa-
tives to propose a toast to the German
emperor Emperor Nicholas lifted his glass
and said slowly and distinctly, as IL weigh
ing every word:
l drink to the health Of the emperor OF
Germany and the king OF Prussie, my
brother and very dear friend
The phrases chosen were significant
enough in themselves the emperor in prev
ious years having proposed the health of the
emperor-kng without the qualifying ex-
preston of brotherhood and friendship
but turning to Herr Won Schoen. the Ger
man ambassador. who was standing at his
right the emperor grasped him by the
hand and is reported to have said: "Frere,
c'est plus que allie" brother. that's more
than ally)
The stage OF the momentous utterance
was the great dining hall of the Alexander,
or little" palace at Tsarskoe Selo. where
the emperor has winter residence. The enl-
press and Grand Duke Michael were pres
emit at the luncheon, to which were in
vited besides all the members Of the Ger
man embassy stan, Court Minister Fred
ericks and many high dignitaries Of the
court. generals admirals and all the Rus
sian knights of the German order Of the
Black Eagle, while the presence of Count
Witte, the premier, and Count Lamsdorr,
the foreign minister, gave ministerial
sanction to the significant utterance All
were in full uniform. The emperor and
Grand Duke Michael wore the uniforms
Of the Prussian regiments, OF which they
are honorary commanders.
France Becomes Lukewarm.
The emperor's choice of the word ally"
indicates that the defensive alliance with
France is still considered binding, but un-
doubtedly as has been the gossip in diplo-
matte circles here for some time, not a
hairs breadth beyond the letter Of the
treaty providing for common action only in
case France is not the aggressor, and there
IL no telling how soon 1t will be allowed 10
pass In desuetude. The present relations
between Germany and Russia have been a
matter OF slow, but steady growth and
signs OF the new alignment have long been
In the air Since the outbreak of the Russo
Japanese war the warm personal friendship
always existing between the two monarchs
has been knit closer anc the many ma
terial tokens OF friendship manifested by
Germany during the war compare with the
lukewarm support OF France, which was
limited by it's new-found entente with
Great Britain. has builded up a strong Ger
manophile sentiment In influential quarters
In ST. Petersburg. At the same time much
Of the necessity 70 France OF the Franco
Russian alliance vanished when France
clsspod hands with Great Britain and prac-
ticaly assured itself of an ally in case OF
war
The present relations between Germany
and Russia were also the text OF an ad-
dress delivered by Ambassador Won Schoen
before the German residents OF St Peters
burg. who assembled this evening in honor
of Emperor Williams anniversary He
spoke with confidence Of the amity existing
between the two nations.
Among the callers at the German embassy
today to OFFER their congratulations on the
emperor's birthday were Mr. Meyer. the
American ambassador. Foreign Minister
Lamsdorf also called in person.