THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA'S VISIT.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 337, 12 July 1875, Page 3

THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA'S VISIT.

With reference to the recent visit of the Emperor of Russia to Germany, the Times of May 14th writes :. Russia has done more than tear up the Treaty of Paris. It is not merely that Bhe can rebuild Sebastopol and cover the Black Sea with her ironclads; her Emperor has also conquered once more the primacy of the Continent, and his opinions on peace and war are looked upon with the reverence due not only to strength, but to a high moral power. The laudations of Germany are exuberant ; France is disposed to recognise her obligations ; and in England the substantial merits of the Emperor's policy are gratefully admitted. Indeed, if the Emperor of Russia never uses his influence for a worse object than on this occasion, he may retain it with the goodwill of all reasonable men in every country. There can be no doubt that the opinion of|the Emperor and the representa*

tions of his able Minister, Prince Gortchakoff, have had a decisive effect on the fortunes of Europe. Perhaps it would be too much to say thai the Emperor's visit changed the disposition of Germany, for no doubt the feeling of the Court of St Petersburg was known long before he arrived in Berlin. But this visit, preceded as it was by incidents which showed the alarm of Europe in all its intensity, and also the animosity which an unprovoked aggression would inspire among all neutral nations, gave the Russian Emperor the opportunity of expressing his opinions more fully and insisting upon them with greater authority. Assuming the final discussion and decision to have been deferred to the Emperor's visit, there could hardly be a more critical situation than that which the Emperor found on his arrival at Berlin. The military authorities of Germany were fully persuaded that Franca was arming for an eventual attack on the Empire—an attack which would be all the more formidable as tho aggressor would be able to choose his time, his pretext, and his opportunity. According to these military observers, France would have a better army three or five years hence, while Germany will never have a better army, her financial position will not improve, and a weariness of the burdens of an armed peace is likely to set in among the population. There could be no reasonable doubt that a new war was meditated, and Germany in self-defence had the right to anticipate what was inevitable. These opinions were urged with pertinacity by men of high rank in the army, and the only question was whether they should prevail. The German Government may be able to declare that a hostile movement against France was never officially entertained, b»t a few days since there was a serious danger that warlike counsels would preponderate: If this danger has passed away for the present, the result is due, in the opinion of the world, to the Emperor of Russia. He is said to have given his opinion very decisively on the subject, while Prince Gortchakoff, no doubt, treated it more argumentatively and in detail with the German Chancellor. It would be interesting to know the nature of the Russian Minister's arguments, and how far they were convincing to the German Government, but we may suppose that a resolute though courteously expressed determination to treat as an enemy the first State which should disturb the peace of Europe was one of the most efficient weapons in the Russian armoury. Although this country has maintained an attitude of reserve in the FrancoGerman controversy, we believe that Her Majesty's Government thought it a national duty in the recent crisis to express its opinion very decisively with regard to the maintenance of peace. This communication was received in a spirit as amicable as that which dictated it, and a most satisfactory reply has been returned from Berlin. The French Government has also expressed its acknowledgment to our own for its friendly attitude. The public will be disposed to agree that the occasion was one on which the rigour of diplomatic non-interference might be wisely relaxed, and will congratulate Mr Disraeli upon the success which has attended his overtures.