European Affairs

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 129, 10 April 1886, Page 2

European Affairs

Judging by the signs of the times in Europe, the hope of a long peace among the Great Powers appears to have little substantial ground. The action of Eussia with ' regard to her rejection of the proposals of Italy to arrange the Roumelian difficulty, by removing the restrictions from the term of the appointment of Prince Alexander as life-Governor — her encouragement to Greece to maintain a warlike attitude — added to the knowledge that under the present admini - tration it is extremely doubtful whether England would make any attempt to restrain Greece — make it probable that, should the latter mass her forces on the Turkish frontier (aa she seems bent on doing), we may soon hear of

an outbreak of hostilities. The sword once drawn, it would be hard to say when it would be sheathed. Russia would be unable to resist the temptation of joining in the fray against the Turks, I * would cause Germany, Austria, and Italy to put their armies in motion ; fcecause the Russians must be kept in chock. France would then

find her opportunity to fly at the throat of Germany, to avenge the bloodshed and defeats inflicted in the I Franco- Prussian War. It is almost a certainty in the event of a European war that France and Russia would be allies in the field. Germany is quite prepared for such a contingency. The elements of one of the most dreadful wars that ever stained the pages of history, are lying in readiness in every groat nation in Europe, and an act of recklessness in a small power like Greece may cause an explosion the effects of which would be felt over the face of the globe.