The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1914. RESTLESS EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1914. RESTLESS EUROPE

The ' enthusiastic welcome which the President of France (M. Poincare) has received in St. Petersburg may be regarded as a proof of tho continued popularity of the Alliance between France and Russia. Tho meeting of .the _ President and the Tsar has a special interest for Great Britain, in view of her close con- . nection with Russia and France in the Triple Entente. The importance of M. Poincare's visit is increased by the attacks which are being made. on the 'Three Years' -Service Law by the French Socialists and by unsettled state of affairs in southeast Europe. M. Poincahe is a strong believer in the necessity of France being ready for any emergency in her foreign relations, and contends' that tho country must be prepared to make sacrifices if it wants to safeguard its national existence. The. recent elections added materially to the strength of the Socialists in Parliament, and they are determined, if • possible,. to go •back to the tWo-year period of military service. Though it is true that a majority of the new Chamber is in favour of tho three-year period, tho opponents of this extension are probably strong enough to wreck the present Ministry if it declines to bow to their will. It is certain, however, that any change whicli would weaken . the French Army would be viewed with great disfavour in Russia. This was made 'quite clear,.'during the French' Cabinet crisis in June last, when an article, attributed to the Russian •War Minister,, appeared in a St. 'Pet'crsb.ijfg newspaper stating that Russia/had a right to expect France to fulfil her obligations as an ally. Russia" bad increased her army to 2,300,000 men, and • she looked to France* to maintain a force of 770,000 men. M. ViViANi,_ the 1 French Premier, appears to realise the danger of , yielding to ' the clamour against the three; years law, and yet ho fears to give offence to his Socialist supporters. He is trying to postpone the crisis by adopting a middle course, his contention being that the existing system must not be interfered with until a substitute for it had been introduced and tested. This all-important matter, as far as Iho Alliance is concerned. is sUre to receive a good deal of attention while the. French President is in St. Petersburg. Both Germany and 'Austria .' have recently made substantial additions to thenmilitary strength, and iniview of tho the;international out- . look, any syin. of, weakening • on the,

part of Franco might have very serious consequences. Tho trouble which has arisen between Austria and Scryia, to which reference was made in our cablo columns yesterday, will be very closely watched by Russia, France, and Germany. There has already been some friction between Italy , and Austria over the Albanian question. The hope is expressed in political circles that this latest Balkan dispute will be confined to Austria and Servia, but it is not always possible to circumscribe a war in this way, especially if it is going to lead 'to annexation of territory. Russia is.-nob likely to stand idly by and seo 'Austria increasing her power and prestige in Eastern Europe, and if Russia should tako a hand in the fray it is impossible to say where the trouble would end. The friction between Austria and' Servia has developed out of the assassination of Archduke Fhanois Ferdinand, the heirto the Austrian throne. The Austrian Government contends; that the plot was hatched in Servia, and tho Ministerial Council recently discussed measures for the rooting out of Servian agitation in Bosnia. It was reported a few days ago that Austrian troops tvero concentrating on the Servian frontier, and now Austria is demanding; the removal of a group of officers in the Servian Army, presumably'on _ the ground that they a-ro promoting .disaffection ' among tho Emperor's subjects. ■ Austria is also irritated by' Servia's diplomatic triumph in securing _an agreement with the Vatican wnich _ lessens the extent of Austria's religious protectorate in tho Balkans. Taking all things into consideration, the .outlook is disquieting. Servia is said to bo preparing for a conflict, and there has been a heavy fall on the Bourse; but it is hard to believe that tho sword is about to be drawn once more. The two nations concerned are not likely to' rush'; into war until.all'the resources of diplohave been exhausted. The Albanian difficulty is still unsettled. The position of Prince , William seems/almost hopeless. The Princess has already left the and it looks as. if the Prince himself will be compelled to abandon his /tottering- throno unless the Powers come to his rescue without delay. But this is just what' the Powers are unwilling to do. '• They do not mind giving good; advice and issuing warnings to which no one seems to take much , heed, but to send troops and warships to see that I their wishes are carried out is a very different matter. The ceaseless discord that prevails in this restless Peninsula seems likely to continue .a constant menace to the peace of Europe. . '