The New York herald., 1922-03-12
Nightmare Of Coalition.

Any one who studies the embryology
Of these treaties with the aid OF the
published documents will be compelled
to admire Bismarck's mastery dipo-
macy. But even this system of conti-
mental alliances did not succeed In
banishing from Bismarcks premonitory
mind all anxiety as to the stability Of
European peace. Frances will to at
tack remained undiminished Throughout.
the various changes Of Ministry. More
over. the chronic. Balkan conflicts be-
tween Russia and Austria. further COM
plicated by England's interests in Egypt
and the Straits. threatened each year
to become acute.
The Chancellor confessed that his
sleep was disturbed by tha nightmare
of the coalition" The dissolution of the
Three Emperor Agreement he equalized
by concluding the Guarantee Treaty OF
1887. which made 1t impossible for
Russia to become an ally of France
But in spite of everything he could not
regard the peace of Europe as definitely
and finally assured and every possible
danger of war eliminated unless he
succeeded in making the English Ger
man alliance the keystone of the peace
structure he had erected in Europe. In
the decade devoted 10 his negotiations Of
new treaties and renewals of already
existing ones this great student OF hu-
man nature never knew what 1t was TO
receive a refusal: indeed. every ono
sued for his favor. and It was from Eng
land that his first setback came.
On January 16 Count Hatzfeldt re-
ported to Prince Bismarck that on the
preceding day he had discussed the
communication of the 18th with Lord
Salisbury.
"The Premier" he wrote, admitted
at once the deep significance of the
political idea and saw therein a new
and valuable proof that Your Highness
was working for a close cooperation Of
the two countries In the interest OF
peace. Salisbury asked to be given time
for mature deliberation and for discus
sion with the more important of his po-
litical friends in order to see how far
he could count upon parliamentary sup
port He promised that these discus
sions should be OF strictly confidential
nature, so that neither the Foreign Office
nor the Queen herself should learn any
thing OF the matter for the time being.
On March 81 the State Secretary, Count
Herbert Bismarck. came to London on
a special mission (the Samoan and
other questions) and in the course Of
a conversation with Lord Salisbury
on March 22 the English Premier spoke
OF "the possibility OF n secret or an
open Germa n English alliance.
Democracy I'm the Saddle.
Lord Salisbury go Count Bismarck
reported back to his father. Prince
Bismarck. was in the fullest agree
ment with me that such an alliance
would be the most salutary thing that
could happen for both countries and In
the interest of European peace. He had
discussed the matter with Lord Hart
ington and other colleagues, all OF
whom shared his opinion. but declared
II would be inopportune to realize the
idea since the parliamentary majority
would be broken UP and so bring the
downfall OF the Ministry.
Lord Salisbury added: unfortunate
" we are no longer living during Pitts
lifetime. when England was governed by
the aristocracy and it was possible TO
pursue the active policy by which Eng
land. after the Vienna Congress, had
risen 10 the position OF the richest and
most highly respected Power In Europe.
Now democracy Is I'm the saddle. and
with Il has come a partisan and persona
regime which has made every English
Government dependent upon the aura
This generation can only be
taught by events"
Count Herbert Bismarck further men
toned that the Imperial Chancellor
wished TO give England this opening
eo we could cover our responsibility IN