Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
DARK DAYS FOR PEACE
Russia, France and ireland All
Have Strife.
AND THE HAGUE AT WORK
Curious Irony in the Situation as It
Stands Today.
ATTITUDE OF EMPoRER WILLIAM
He May Break Diplomatic Gordon and
Give Expression to His In
dignation,
OF EMPoRER WILLIAM
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON June PA congress of all the
nations of the earth is sitting at The Hague
seeking to devise means to inaugurate uni
versal peace. To the east of it Russia is in
the throes of what perhaps may be de-
scribed a passive revolution. To the
south of it a considerable section of France
Is in active Instruction. To the west Of it
Ireland has entered fresh campaign for
the overthrow of the existing scheme of gov
eminent. The rustic of the wings of the
angels of peace is already drowned by the
clamor of strife, but the seeming mockery
of the spectacle has not the glooming sig
see in it. 1t has been one of fate's favorite
ironies to make almost every peace confer
ence seem to be preliminary to the outbreak
of serious war. and diplomatic circles
have been disturbed this week by more grave
uneasiness than that caused by the three
specific popular movements referred to
above
This was limited at by NJ. Clemenceau, the
French prime minister, Tuesday, when he
lHc CHdulptI VI utputlSS lHdl IL
his ministry was overthrown its successors
would have to deal with more serious mat
tiers than the insurrection in the Midi The
diplomatic world interprets this as an allu-
sion to the situation created by the latest
international agreement between Great Brit
ain, France and Spain in regard to the Med
herranean and the Atlantic. This measure
is naturally calculated to infame still FUR
Their Germany's resentment against the
great combination which now circumscribes
that country's ambitions.
The Diplomatic Gordon.
1t is well understood that Emperor Will
liam will not hesitate to give expression to
his indigna ton in decisive action the mo-
ment he opportunity to break the
diplomatic Gordon which surrounds him.
He has entered a protest against the
Franco-Japanese far eastern agreement. and
his action in regard to the new Mediter-
ranean understanding has not yet trans
pired.
1t is difficult to see what effective &C
ton Germany can take at the present mo;
ment. general conflagration in Europe
today could hardly result to her advantage.
The Stars Berlin advices are to the eff
feet that the inSurrectiOn in France is be-
ing watched with the keenest interest, and
Count Won Buelow'S visit to the emperor
at Kiel Thursday was directly connected
Herewith. The German foreign Office de-
MES strenuously that any diplomatic crisis
is pending but this is done as a matter
of course in any situation.
Germany within a few days has resumed
the policy of pin pricks against France
senting as vigorously as during the regime
of NJ. Delcasse. Germany still seeks a
predominant influence at Fee, but the
nominal cause of the latest dispute is the
npa MD on IN, ROC 90 no
between Tangier and Algiers.
Some Diplomatic Alarms.
The general public knows nothing of
these diplomatic alarms but the financial
world is keenly sensitive. and If consols
and the stock exchange can be taken as a
barometer then the political situation
would be described as threatening. All
the markets, however, have been in the
doldrums for months, and the prevailing
disgust and despair must be ascrfbed to a
variety of causes.
Turning to popular uprising in three
countries, we are confronted with con-
trasts Of absorbing interest and signifi-
canoe. In Russia, where popular suffer-
ing and oppression are greatest, they are
who were thoroughly alarmed eighteen
months ago by signs of revolution, have
regained confidence. They believe now
tyranny can safely resume it's ruthless
sway ana tNey nope gradually induce
the car to resume that policy. No cause
can triumph without n leader, and the
long agitation in Russia has failed to pro-
duce one. That is what makes the Russian
situation discouraging.
A Hopeless Cause.
France. on the other hand, is a won
derful country, and the French are a Won
derful people. Every crisis throws up a
man who is a leader by instinct, and he
commands the implicit obedience and
worship of his followers. Marcellin AL
bert simple wine grower though he is, is
such d man. His cause is hopeless. To
expect a government to change the opera
ton of memorable economic laws 1s alb
surd. but he has organized his fellow
citizens into the most threatening revolt
which has occurred in western Europe
since the commune. He and his lieuten-
ants are not responsible for the prevailing
bloodshed
Their campaign was one of passive re-
sistance. 1t was illegal, and it was the
duty of the government to suppress it.
Order will be restored in the midi within a
few days, though. perhaps, at a terrible
cost. The world will not fail to appreciate
however. this demonstration of the power
CT leadership.
Liberty in Russia affecting the fate of
many millions Is almost despaired Of, be-
cause no master mind exists The distress
III four departments OF France shakes the
whole nation, because it is organized by
natural leaders.
The Situation in Ireland
The French Instruction has its milder
counterpart in Ireland. There will be no
swift crisis in the Irish agitation for home
rule. They have always with them a cam
paign which, when entered, is Illegal but
not startlingly violent. In it's present
phases the forcble dispossession and ap-
preparation of land by the peasants is not
particularly dramatic proceeding. but it
is likely to lead to interesting developments
whatever government is in power The
Stars correspondent, who is travelling in the
dlsaffeCted districts. thus describes this
weeks incident The land war is being
steadily waged, and the people claim that
they have more than half won. Landlords
with whom | have come in contact through
out the country admit that the peasants
have just cause for complaint. No other
agitation started in Ireland ever had such
immediate results. A few graZiers have
placed their cattle back on the ranches
and the majority have given undertakings
not TO continue their occupation after GER
tain dates Leading Irish unionists charge
the government with giving direct and in
direct encoura cement to the agitators and
assert that the state has dealt the heaviest
blow to the landlord class in the past week