GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1356, 19 June 1878, Page 3

GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

[Berlin correspondent of “London Times.”] The tone of the German Press remains ns anti-Russian as possible. Excepting few journals of Governmental or absolutistic proclivities, Liberal, Conservative, Clerical, and Radical papers unite in opposing the present policy of the St. Petersburg Government, The sense of justice displayed in this pretty unanimous verdict is the more remarkable, there being few, if any persons in this country recommending forcible interference. The “ Cologne Gazette,” the most notable organ of Northern Germany, has the following : “ The German Chancellor will surely do his part. He has a perfect right to do all he can to moderate Russia’s tone. Only very lately we find it dropping from a semi-official pen in Berlin, that Russia must choose one of two things —war or the relinquishment of the Treaty of San Stefano, which treaty would be virtually annulled should Russia appear at the Congress. Berlin, Vienna, London, and all Europe protest against this treaty, for Rus-ia has gone too tar in making the whole of the Balkan Peninsula permanently a dependency of Russia. In justification, Russia declares that the resolutions set down at San Stefano were only done to mark to what extent Turkey is ready to yield. These resolutions may be altered if the Powers consider them to their dis Advantage. It would be well it Russia -would really act up to this, for only then can she compass peace, which to her is now the very breath of her nostrils. News received from the seat of war gives a melancholy account of the state of the Russian army, and when Russia boasts that she could send a million more men to the fight, they would be mere recruits and not soldiers; even had she soldiers enough, she would still lack officers.” The “Bremen Weser Zeitung,” another remarkable North German journal, of pronounced anti-Turkish views, deems it indispensable to criticise Russia pretty stiffly:- “ When the Russians opened the Oriental campaign they were benign and cautious, and most careful not to display the reverse of the picture. They went to a holy crusade for the behoof of humanity at large, to overthrow a dominion which was an insult to modem culture, as it continually obstructed the development of man’s best interests. This design coincided with the urgent need of all the other European Powers, and it would have been foolish to have opposed the Czar’s benevolent purposes seeing that all peaceful overtures to attain the desired result had signally failed. But the affair assumes a totally different aspect when the end aimed at having been attained the avenger, unwarrantably and haughtily asserting himself as Europe’s representative, trades on his own account, and transforms directly or indirectly a portion of the native race to whom the soil belongs by birth into a conquered province. That the very inkling of such a plan should require a check is as clear as day, and needs no long argument to prove its indispensability, The best reply to such questions is to inquire what would have hapEened had Russia at the very outset announced er intention of displacing the Turk for the purpose of setting up her own sway in its stead. Europe would have answered that she could never permit any such thing, and would interfere to hinder it by force of arms if needful. And now when we have to consider the question in all its naked deformity, which must he done to pronounce a just verdict, we can only declare that if the honour of Russia’s Emperor, or the honour and welfare df the Empire, renders the dominion over a portion of the Balkan Peninsula necessary, no matter whether directly or indirectly, well then, we say that all Europe must set themselves in array against such interpretation of Russian honour.” The Allgem fine Zeitung,” the leading daily of Southern Germany, remains true to its anti-Russian leanings ‘Finesse and diplomatic resistance have never been dreaded by the cunning Muscovite, for he knows he can outdo each and all in this respect. But he shuns independent action. He has ever hated the Turk for defending himself and for being a very devil at fighting. When the Turk lies at his feet he thinks he can! manage Europe with a complimentary bow or two and seemingly lends a ready ear to her proposals. Let Europe propose. Like Armenian and Chinese traders, the Russians have asked so much that they can afford to abate something. Whoever bargains with them is a lost man. Austria has committed a very great mistake in trusting the Eu.asiano up to the day of S&n Stefano, and to act consistently, she must supplement her first error by trying to modify the Treaty of San Stefano peacefully. She will not refuse the ‘ unacceptable’ peace, tor refusal would be war, or, at any rate, mobilization and readiness for marching. Bub things like these are costly, Austria does not alone deprecate war ; she would like to economise too. For if she does not save to-day, Count Andrassy’s critics would cry out—‘ He crossed his arms and was confidential at the right moment; seated on his mettled steed of self-conceit ho poured down rebuke upon \is as if we were idiots, guaranteeing us ptaee if we would only lat him have his own way. Now that he is somewhat out in his bearings, lie needs money, and, consequently, ourselves. Count Andrassy imagines that Russia does net see through his little manmuvre of hectoring and jolusjienng, but't .king" no further steps to compel compliance. He wants a, Congress, he gays, and then he will make known his opinions. He is a mere actor, and imagines he is mistaken for a public man. He would have no particular objection to England's rescuing Europe all by herself, provided it cost Austria nothing and she were certain that the friend of her friend would stand by her too.’ And England alone P England will maintain her own; she will do what her position as a maritime Power and her prestige in Asia demand of her. She will not quietly look on while Russia takes possession of Constantinople and the Straits. Rather than this she would stay there herself. She will take care of herself,

leaving the others to their fate — i.e., their cunning. If necessary, she will occupy Gallipoli, and find firm footing on the shores of the Bosphorus, sweep the Black Sea, and nestle down in Trebizond. Where England plants her foot, there she stands firm. She comes, hut she does not go away again. She will there have time to consider Russian propositions at her ease, to ponder long over them, and say ‘No ’ until her adversary is checkmated. She must wait awhile for the war in Asia; if inevitable, she will go at it with undiminished ardour, while the Russian army, held fast in Roumania, Bulgaria, and Thrace, will melt away and shrink into nothing—just like the paper rouble. Possibly the green flag of the Prophet may be unfurled some day by England in Asia. One thing we must not expect from England that she is to go to war on behalf of Europe. In some sort she will have to do battle for Europe, but only because some of her interests are inseparable from European interests. But whore this community of interests ceases, England will defend none but English blood and money against Mongolian highwaymen. If she now provokes war, she knows why, and knows she is in the right; and if Russia concedes to her, and to her alone, all that she asks, no one can feel aggrieved. And if England, by her language and her war preparations, does really compel peace, no one can take merit to himself for not having gone with her and helped her to screw peace out of Russia, aud still England would have right on her side. She would have been in imminent danger of war ; and only he who ventures deserves to win.” The like tone is maintained by the German Press in Switzerland. A Vienna correspondent in the “Berne Bund” speaks out openly : “To Austria the peace of San Stofano is quite as unacceptable as to England ; though less demonstrative than England she has protested against it quite as energetically and is equally determined to have it modified, even at the point of the sword if necessary. Thus far, England’s and Austria’s policy run parallel, and both Cabinets are in perfect unison on this head. But whereas Austriagwishes, if possible, to bring about a peaceful solution of the Eastern Question, it would appear that the English Cabinet prefer war to compromise. Not from love of bloodshed, but because England is convinced that sooner or later there must bo war with Russia, and that now, when weakened by her contest with Turkey, it will be more inopportune for Russia than later on when she has somewhat recovered her exhaustion. At present public opinion is for England, though the day may come when it shall be against her, Austria, Roumania, Greece, and perhaps even Turkey might now, if hard pressed, become her allies, which hereafter is less likely. This is reason enough why England should not shun a war, especially as her supremacy in Central Asia is threatened. This situation of affairs is rather favorable than otherwise for Austria. The bolder England’s bearing, the more must Russia seek to propitiate Austria, and the better is our prospect of getting what we want without having to call out a single soldier,”