GERMANY— RUSSIA— POLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 240, 11 October 1870, Page 2

GERMANY— RUSSIA— POLAND.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Maix # Sir — In the remarkable "Memoir on Russia, for the instruction of the Emperor Alexander [then Grand Duke], drawn up by the Cabinet in 1837," occur the following words regarding Germany, and j especially Prussia : — I "As to Prussia, she suffers from a military system which eats up her marrow, and, from frontiers extended in the most disadvantageous manner, she maintains but with difficulty a place among the great Powers. Prussia either goes to pieces under some serious shock, or must avail herself of favorable circumstances to become the master of the whole of Northern Germany. This state of things is highly favorable for our policy. Austria will require a long time to grow up to an intellectual power. Our chief aim in the work of dismemberment must be, to preserve in Italy as well as in Germany the existing territorial division as much as possible, and to favor ia both countries institutions calculated to keep alive the dissension of the governing and the governed. The loss of Norway weakened Denmark ; but the acquisition of Norway did not strengthen Sweden ; on the contrary, owing to mutual jealousy, became a drag. The arrangement suited perfectly well the interest of Russia." .... Again, " Austria sinks into weakness, and is without iuflueuce in Germany, owing to her isolation. Viewed from abroad, she appears as an inert mass, without a life common to the whole. This state of things should be preserved as much as possible. Above all, we have to preserve and utilise the indifferent feeling in the Slavonic provinces. This power is paralysed. In the event of a catastrophe it can easily be entangled in Germany and Italy, provided a suitable plan be suggested to Prussia Prussia cannot be turned to account except in Germany and against France. Provided Bsujssia would not oppose our plans, but xfiaintain an aimed neutrality, we might not grudge her the Maine-frontier, under the condition that she would cede her Polish Province Jo us. She cannot do us any harm so soon as we have gained our ends on the Bosphorus." Bismarck has acted on the suggestions, without requiring the aid of Russia, and thus foiled Napoleon — Russia's tool. The whole of this " memoir " is so interesting at the present moment, that ifc should be published did your space permit. Count Zamoiski gave to the world the secret despatches of Russia, of which this memoir is a part, taken at Warsaw, in one of the Polish contests to throw off the Asiatic yoke of Russia ; but Russia has declared that " to withdraw Poland from under the Imperial sceptre, would be to compel the Russian to receive everything at secoud-hand ; and that "Poland between her and Europe, Russia is ruined as a European Power, and lapses into Asiatic insignificence." This accounts for her anxiety that Prussia should cede her part of Poland to her, for Austria must then follow in delivering up her share, which to the honor of Maria-Theresa, she never desired, but it was forced on that noble woman, who declared that she was committing 'a great crime under the pressure of her Ministers. And many times since Austria has offered to restore, as far as she was concerned, the Kingdom of Poland ; and the promise of even the

_______ -» King of Prussia ou the barricades of 1848, was the reconstruction of a Polish nationality. The Times of April 2, 1860, said :— " What if France be disposed lo offer Prussia, in exchange for her Rhenish Provinces, Saxony, Hanover, Brunswick, and Mecklenburg, territories which could offer little or no resistance to such aa amalgamation ? Might not Prussia think it better to surrender, for an equivalent so fully adequate, that which she will hardly retain after the most desperate and costly efforts." It is curious to compare the diatribes of the Times of 1870 against Louis Napoleon with the atrocious proposals of the Times of 1860. I am, &c, E. TUCKEE. P.S. Those who feel an interest in these and other European matters may consult the documents in the small library belonging to the Nelson Artizans' Society.