Year: 1875

JecturA programme OF the military party in Germany
"a programme of which the French imagination has
supplied US the details. at is necessary to enter
France, march on Paris, take up position on the
sheltered plateau of Avron, whence one could de-
stroy the capital and sign q new peace, depriving
France only of the territory of Befort limiting its
active army and fning it 10 miliards in 20 yearly
installments with interest at per cent and without
the option of paying it off sooner. Paris would only
be attacked in the event of France refusing to sign
such treaty." To the credit of the man who re-
peats this nonsense be it said that he avows his dis
belief in it nay, admits that Germany q whole is
against such a scheme. But he insists that sane
Frenchmen believe in it, that France-and hence
Europe-cannot be tranquil till such fears are
allayed and that Germany ought to allay them by a
public declaration that they are unfounded. Sens-
BILE men require no such declaration; madmen
would not believe it, if made. Yet Prince Bismarck
according to Vienna telegram this morning, is de-
sirous to make attempt to convince France Of his
peaceful intentions. He proposes to the En-
peror Alexander that Germany has only peace in
view, while the military measures of France justify
the fear that her Government is not moved by the
same sentiments, and His Majesty will be urgently
requested to inform France of the pacific intentions
of Germany.


1t is not of course, without reference TO the
meeting of the two Emperors that such letter as
this is written. Russia is the only power, according
to its author, which Germany need now propitiate
If the Emperor William can obtain the Emperor
Alexander's assent to the immediate invasion of
France, the rest of Europe will look On-at any rate
will not and cannot raise hand to stay her. Peace
war, therefore, III the view of French alarmists
hangs ON the turn things take at the interview of
next week. But as the writer admits that even the
Emperor William has declared he is bound BY the
treaty he has signed and as the country be rules is
against the spoiatiOn scheme, the object of such
publication is not very clear The Times, in careful
article declares its belief that all these fears are due
to the heated fancy of its French neighbOrs 1t gives
them publicity because it would be worse than
folly to hide any grave misgivings which may be
disturbing Paris Alitte further reflection ght have
suggested that similar misgivings have been disturb


ing Paris for three years past, and that the heated
fancy" to which they due is not likely to grow
suddenly cod. If The Times is going to publish two
columns Of them as often as Frenchman chooses to
put them on paper it will not have room for much
else. certainly am not for suppressing anything,
but believe folies of the kind this correspondent
describes derive their chief Importance from their
appearance-with no matter what disclaimer-in
journal which influences European opinion power
fully and so widely as The Times. That the peace OF
Europe is in any more danger than it has been at
any time during the last three years do not believe
The Times is right in saying that wars and Tunors of
wars and chronic suspense have taken even from in
telectua Frenchmen, the faculty Of political judg-
ment. There is absolutely no reason whatever to
suppose the Emperor Of Russia would connive at
wanton attack France, and just as little to sup
pose the Emperor of Germany Prince Bismarck
will ask him to be party to so stupid and wicked
purpose as Frenchmen impute to them. G. s.