Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 1896. The Critical Postion.

Manawatu Herald, 18 January 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 1896. The Critical Postion.

» Lord Rosebbrry has said that foreign affairs at present demand the most concentrated, vigilant, and sympathetic attention of all parties. The troubles we know of are, it appears, as nothing to those we know notof, and all the moves and countermoves are only an alteration of the draughts, or a shnffi'ng of the card-* before the game is began in dead earnest There are probably none who know where the deed which will set all Europe in a blaze will be done, or by whom on whom, yet every nation stands by, vigilant, and with concentrated attention on the three Powers of France, Germany, and Russia. Why is Great Britain dis turbed ? That question is easily answered, as fighting in any part of the world must be to her disadvant age, and is bound to call for her in ttu-ference in time. The Turkish question is thought to bfi the one which will cause the conflagration. It was openly said in the cities of Europe in July, that Russia wou'd support France in all African ques t.iono, thft most important one to France bping our occupation of Egyp*. However dangerous it mi^hf 1 be to France in years to come, and do

if; wag certainly looked upon by the Great Napoleon in years past, Prance appears willing to see Russia in Constantinople provided Great Britain is moved out of Egypt. Trouble with France could easily be raised as to Egypt, or the Upper Nile Valley, or in Siaui and elsewhere, and peace is only maintained by the readiness shown by Great Britain for war, and by the conflicting interests of the other European Powers. It is impossible to permit the Turk to murder and harass hi 3 Christian subjects much longer. It could have been stopped before now but for Russia, which looka as though that Power was intending to absorb Turkey instead of fighting her, and would thus get her pick of situations before the other Powers. It will be remembered Russia but a short time ago obligingly offered to occupy Armenia if the other Powers were willing. As she is not occupying it, it may be taken for granted the Powers were not willing and this illustrates the difficulty not of silencing the Turk but of satisfactorily subdividing his territory. Germany and Austria do not want the Russian to have any further length of boundary between them, which would be the case if he got to Constantinople. Russia would not approve of Germany or Austria getting on to the shores commanding the entrance to the Black Sea* We doubt if Great Britain would agrae to France holding it, and all the Powers would object to Great Britain doing so. Round this are the other moves and anxieties of each nation, when an insignificant cause, thousands of miles away, might cause the important rupture leading 'to the breach of the peace of the world. In all these hours of doubt it is pleasing to know that the Marquis of Salisbury is for practical purposes in foreign affairs Czar. He has a United nation ready and willing to .do his bidding both in fighting and; finding the necessary millions. All late cablegrams mention a better i feeling being apparent all round, yet Statesmen advise caution.