Year: 1876

LONDON, December "a dispatch from
Berlin to the Pail Mall Gazette says that BIS
marck in a speechm parliament to-day gave
assurance that the governments Of Germany
and Russia remain On the most friendly foot
ing; the three emperorS alliance still exists in
its full integrity. This does not, however, IN
the least preclude the cordial friendship with
England. The friendly relations with Russia
are established by long tradition, and Ger
many values them as highly as those with
any other power. The chancellor apparently
expressed greater hopes of peaceable sOlu-
ton Of the present crisis, even should the con-
ference not achieve It's fall object. He has
no doubt that the difference now apparent
between the English and Russian interests
will be composed. The endeavors of Germa
ny continue 10 be directed 10 the maintenance
OF peace. He repeated that the alliance be-
tween the three empires Is close and firm,
and said the hopes of its enemies that it may
be broken are absolutely gromdless. He
also repeated his former assurance OF
German neutrality. Should the conference
fail to achieve unanimity between the powers
and reform in the Turkish administration,
Germany cannot disapprove of Russia at
tempt to carry the latter attempt on her own
responsibility. There is no prospect whatever
of a rupture between Germany and Russia.
The German emperor, as well as the State
governments Of the empire, value and respect
the friendship of Russia, which has stood the
test Of a hundred years. He assured the
house that notwithstanding the assertions to
the contrary boldly put forward, the relations
between Russia and Austria are of the most
friendly character, but there is no menace in
the three enperors' alliance to any other
power. Germany is attached to England by
ties of long traditional friendship, and wishes
to preserve that friendship quite as much as
the cordial relations with Russia. The friend
ship has likewise stood many test and the
future VIII show it will continue firm and
cordial as heretofore. Prince Bismarck
regards Germany and France rs the two
powers least directly interested in the pres
ent eastern question. Germany, he SAID,
viii therefore remain perfectly neutral. She
will not stake single bone Of a hardy Pome-
ranian landweir upon the issue. The reserve
hitherto practiced by Germany has been
generally appreciated, and it debars her from
pressing her advice at the present juncture
upon the other powers. There Is nothing
whatever in the present phase Of the eastern
crisis to preclude the prospect of the mainte-
nance, and even confirmation and strength
ening of peace. To this end the exertions OF
Germany are directed. Even should the con-
ference fail to achieve its direct object it is
probable that the existing differences between
England and Russia will be satisfactorily ad-
justed. The prince declined to enter upon
the subject of the future policy of Ger
many. Once more he explicitly assured
the house that it is his strenuous
endeavor to preserve friendly feeling among
the great powers, and that the imperial gov
ernment Will never consent to the aggrandize-
4rf ll1-ro NJ n
another. The prince concludes as follows
"Our task in the first instance is to maintain
peace; secondly, to mediate between the
powers in order to remove differences and To-
cllize war which is perhaps inevitable. Should
we not succeed, things would assume a differ
ent aspect and would allow of several COM
binahons. But upon this point / cannot yet
give information.


A leading article in the Times Of this
morning, commenting on Prince Bis
marck's speech, concludes as follows: The
notion that he seriously suggests to England,
semi-war like that of Russia In Servia, Is too
absurd for discussion. On the conduct OF
England the people of the continent may set
their minds at rest. We shall not carry on a
war ike that of the Russians in Servia, nor
any war at all. The belhcose Outcry OF a
month ago has sunk into silence as the feeling
of the country once more manltestS itself.
The government is aware that all of its adu-
lator8 are not to go to parliament with projects
of war, which would be to court destruction.
The meetings which we report are evidence Of
the feeling which everywhere prevail, and ii
would be manifested ten times more strongly
if there were any real danger that the gov
ernment could thrust US into war


John Bright made an elaborate speech to
large meeting at Birmingham last night
against the governments eastern policy OF
any support of Turkey.


Mr.. Gladstone is announced to partici-
pate in the conference on the eastern ques-
tiCn at St. James's hall next Friday. Many
prominent Liberals and well-known philan-
throphists are promoters of the affair. The
object is to influence public opinion against
supporting Turkey.