Year: 1872

mote schemes OF agSTanuIement there are
ample assurances. On the part Of Germany
we have the following statement of a sheet.
which is well-known to express only the
opinions of the German Government: "The
"signifcance of this great event is universally
acknowledged. since the personal rapproche-
"p,ent of the monarchs is in itself an evidence
"that their political endeayors are all in
"the direction of q friendly understanding.
"The soyereigns assemble neither to oppose
Gan imminent danger, nor under the pressure
"of critical external relations; neither to COM
"mune on preparations for war against a
"common enemy nor to discuss the terms of
a formal and exclusive alliance for special
"end; and yet they have a common purpose
"bcfore them-the preservation ana consohda-
"tion of the peace of Europe" From
St. Petersburg we have the announcement
that the conference sis regarded by all
competent politicians as the sealing OF
"mutnal policy of peace. The present union
" of the three Powers has not the significance
" of n coalition for menacing other States, and
" for producing complications. 1t is intended
to secure Europe as far as possible from
" further cOmmOtOn, and is consequently TO
" the advantage of all countries"


However, we are not in need Of any semi
official assurances of Cabinet Ministers in
Germany or Russia or Austria to satisfy our
selves that no scheme of aggrandizement is
intended. 1t is as well known TO the world as
to the sovereigns of each of those countries
that no adequate alliance for aggressive
purposes can be formed between them
ON a common basis. There is every
reason to believe that originally an
entente cOrdiale was designed between the
Emperors of Germany and Austria for the
purpose of adopting common system OF OPP
position to the Pope. The unanimity with
which the Governments of both Of those


countries have proceeded against the Jesmts


since the announcement of the proposed visit
of the Emperor Francis Joseph to Berlin, is
sufficiently significant of this fact The
| conference seems to have acquired greater
importance from the resolution of the En-
peror of Russia to postpone a proposed jour


nev to Berlin until the time of the conference
| which had already been arranged to take
! place. The whole transaction bears the stamp
| Of Prince Bismarck's peculiar genius. His


relations with the Russian and Austrian Gov
ernments being good, he formed the plan of be-
| coming mediator between tncm' II CouDJ
Andrassy only consented to this with reluctance,
! Prince GortschakOif did so the more willingly
because he was well aware of the advantage
which would accrue to Russia if the peace of
Europe should be secured until the reorgani-


zation of her army should be effected, and the


extensive Notifications now in progress should


be completed After that time, there is


no reason to hope for guarantees of peace.
As at present, a temporary harmony of interests
may cause maintenance Of order; but the
accident which occasiOncd it may at any time


give way to q desire for its termination. We


are thus led to The unsatisfactory reflection that


the question Of peace rests on no more secure


foundation than the inclinations Of any one of


the three soyercigns, who have just resolved


to keep The peace until they c1n break it to
! advantage