THE EUROPEAN CRISIS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 307, 7 June 1875, Page 3

THE EUROPEAN CRISIS.

(.European Mail.) The Post, a semi-official organ of Berlin, publishes a disquieting article on the subject of the present state of Europe, and the tendencies which arc apparent on all sides to drift into a Continental war. Recent events, it says, have unfortunately rendered it but too probable that the Legislative Assembly of France, being afraid that the Republican majority of the next Chamber will eschew war, under the dangerous auspices of Macmahon and the Orleanist Princes, are anxious to precipitate a guerre de revanche , while a strong body of Royalist Deputies is there to profit by the results for the re-establishment of Monarchy. War, accordingly, is coming on, though the clouds gathering on the horizon may yet be in dispersion. The Austrian Conservatives, aided by influential military circles, are endeavoring to turn out the Andrassy Cabinet with a view to take part in coming events in Italy. It is certain that she wishes to make the Pope a tool in her "hands, to use him for the exercise of Italian political influence all over the world; The greater part of the upper classes of Italy are ready to join any ally against

Germany, whose anti-Papal attitude is considered by them, as anti-Italian and hostile to their national interests. Yet it is by no means certain that the French government will be able to procure an Austro-Italian alliance just now. If they fail in their endeavors to do so, war will probably be delayed. Things, however, have reached a pass when the German people should be better acquainted with the realities of the situation. It is time to awake slumberers. A contemporary adds : A certain disturbance in the political atmosphere of the Continent has been only too apparent lately, and we much fear that the extraordinary article which has just been published, certainly not without official inspiration, in a well-known organ of the Government of Berlin will not tend to clear the air. There is a frankness, indeed a bluntness, about its statements, its imputations, and its threats, which is eminently characteristic, but which strikes one with a peculiar sense of incongruity at a moment when the statesmen of that capital are showing themselves so peculiarly sensitive to the candour of other people. There is evidently no notion at Berlin that Governments are equal, and that the consideration and respect which one nation claims from another, it is bound to reciprocate. Belgian Bishops, the Pope of Borne, and French journalists, are bound to consider their words, or to take the consequences. But the official newspapers of the Prussian Government may speak in a voice of thunder, and no one must complain. Yet we suspect that the language of the Berlin Post will excite no little surprise, and possibly may arouse some remonstrance, The brusqueness «f its tone is quite startling. It brings the most explicit charges against France, Austria, Italy, and, as a matter of course, the Pope. It accuses the National Assembly of prolonging its existence, for fear that the next Chamber should contain a majority of Republican deputies ; and that these should be unwilling to embark upon a fresh war. This intention it imputes, without the slightest hesitation or circumlocution of speech, to the Orleanist Princes and Marshal MacMahon, whom it names personally, and under whose “ dangerous auspices,” it affirms, a war of revenge is being prepared and precipitated, As though anxious that none should escape from its charges, it adds that a compact body of Royalist deputies intend to profit by the result in the re-establishment of Monarchy. “ War accordingly,” it observes, “ is coming on, though the clouds looming on the horizon may not yet have gathered.” Turning to Austria, the Post —we quote an analysis furnished to the Times by a correspondent—affirms that a certain Conservative military party at Vienna are endeavoring to bring about the downfall of Count Andrassy, with a view of taking part in coming events in Italy,” We confess we have not the faintest idea what that means ; nor is the matter made much clearer by the observation that Italy wishes to retain the Pope, and to make him an agent for spreading Italian political influence in the world. We remember, years ago, to have read some visionary nonsense of this sort in Gioberti’s “ Primato Morale e Civile but Gioberti

had almost a monopoly of the ideas of Italian influence therein expressed ; and the Italians of the present generation, not being dreamers of dreams, aspire to nothing more than a quiet life at home, and as little bother with the Pope as possible. The assertion that “ the greater part of the upper classes of Italy are ready to join any ally against Germany, whose anti-Papal attitude is considered by them as antiItalian, and hostile to their national interests,” will astound those who know anything of Italy and Italian public opinion. It is true that there is in Italy what is called a French party and what is called a German party, and that whilst the Democrats are for the most part to be found in the ranks of the latter, the more Conservative Italian politicians either carefully abstain from identifying themselves with either or incline to favor the first of the two. All that this means, however, is that the Italians are not unanimous as to whether they owe more to France or to Germany in the past, and whether in the future a close understanding with France or with Germany will prove the more beneficial to Italy. . . . There is something eminently suspicious in these accusations, which everybody knows to be, for the moment at least, unfounded. They might be true ten years hence. But will Prince Bismarck wait till they are true ? Many people will be painfully reminded of the fable of the wolf and the lamb ; but we are not aware that the wit of the fabulist abolished for ever the casuistry of wolves. In this case, however, the tact and forbearance of the lamb may be of more use than it was in the fable. If Germany should suddenly become exacting France will have to turn away its wrath with mild replisa. There is nothing else for it at present. We sincerely hope that the French people will not be led into supposing that they can count upon the assistance either of Austria or of Italy. This is merely a ruse on the part of an exceedingly cunning adversary, employed for the purpose of blinding them. We are happy to think that the Duke Decazes is not likely to display that levity of heartwhich proved so fatal five years ago. A calmer view of the case is now taken. The Post has since disavowed its intention of causing alarm, and emphatically denies that the article was “ inspired.”