BRITAIN BELLIGERENT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1886, 13 May 1878, Page 2

BRITAIN BELLIGERENT.

Tho London correspondent of the Mel* bourne "Age" describes at longth the state of feeling in Britain, aa it would appear, with tolerable accuracy. Ho write* : — Tho apprehension of war and tho wish for it havo taken possession of tho public mind. Of courso thoso who wish for it have tho decency to say that they hopo it will bo averted, but they wish for it novorUioless. This remark applies to a clear majority of the population, and if war woro declared to morrow there would scarcely be a sound of dis« approval or even regret. I know it is the fashion to talk differently. Tliero nro questions, and this is one of them, upon which it is considered quite justifiable to behave hypocritioally. But lat least believe that I am testifying to the truth, and it is just what I have said all along. A war with Russia would be immensely popular, far more so than the Crimean war was. Tho feeling against Russia is intensely bitter, and hor conduct latoly, or rather, perhaps, that of tho pufifed-up military men by whom tho negotiations for peace were oarried on, lias boon certainly sufficiently provooativo. Hor treatment of Roumnnia is shabby and ungrateful in the oxlromo, and in violation of a treaty and convention not oighteen months old. Llor vauntod diplomacy is looked upon as an instanoe of mendaoity and chicanery, and is only clever tn the samo sense that the praotioo of an unoonvictod piokpockot might bo so desoribod. There are a few who still believe in tho plodged word of the Czar, although thoy are forced to admit that he might as well break his own promises as allow others to break them for him. But ho is to be pitied, for in a dospotism such as his the chief despot is evor at tho mercy of a multitude of smallor despots who render his life miserable. The prevalont impression among all classes now is that Russia will play tho part of bully if allowed, but will substitute that of sneak if firmly opposed, and, therefore, it is argued there will be peace. But this epigrammatic way of dismissing a difficult question does not fit in with facts and circumstances, It is requisite that iho conduct of England should be judicious as well as firm. The real danger of tho position lies in this — England and Russia aro watohing one another in order to take advantage of each other's mistakes. England wants to ha/o a strong case for Interference. She is willing to be forced into a war, while Russia is determined to stop a little short of giving full provocation, and yet to go as far as she can without virtually treading on tho lion's tail. In this state of mind on oithor sido thore is groat danger of one or tho othor making a mistako, in which case war would, be the probable consequence. England hat everything in readiness for oommonoinjr hostilities at short notioe. The loader or a possible oxpoditionary force is ready to outer on his oommand, and no doubt the programme of a campaign is in progress of being drawn up. When all is in readiness tho temptation to do something is perilously strong. Austria is nearly as well prepared : Greece oan hardly bo held in ; Ronmania is in a dangerous state of temper ; Servia is disposed to sulk : Turkey might be re-galvanised by % oalt to arms; France and Germany have onough to do in watching each other's movemonts, and altogether the prospeot of Itimia in tho event of the re-com-mencement of hostilities is alarming, although in tho infatuation of hor make* beliove victories she may not be able to see tho truth. The times »re truly full of danger, and the peaoe is not worth many day s purchaso, although of oourso thore is plenty of room for hopo. It is not in the Congress, however, that people expect to soo an amicable arrangemont arrived at. The general wish is that it may not meet at all, for England seldom fares well in such company as she usually finds herself in on suoh occasion. She walks in at the front door, whilo the others aro in secret confabulations in lobbies and on back stairs, and when tho timo for business arrives she is robbed to her face in tho most polito and diplomatic way. The only ono who really wishes for a Conference ia the Emperor of Germany, who would like to see a war between Russia and England, although the samo cannot be said of Ptince Bismarck, whoso reputed frankness is an admirable cloak for the concoalmont of resortod thoughts. Ab the contention stands, Russia wishes to havo tho right of reserving certain clauses of the treaty from discussion, and to have the power of deciding what shall and what shall not bo submitted, while England insists that the whole of tho olauses shall be gone over seriatim in order that the delegates may challenge any on« of them. Until this point is settled, and it is not easy to see how it can bo, it is premature to say that thore will bo a Conference at all. England, too, has proposed that Greece shall bo represented, but this will not be insisted upon. Tho proposal is merely a convenient mode of announcing that England will not allow the Sclavs to onoroaoh on the Greeks, or, in other words, will not allow the new Bulgaria to htvo a frontago on the M%qmi Sea. Russia would now gladly cajole Greece with a promise to put her in possession of Constantinople, but she is too late ; and for once Gortschakoff has been out-inanoouvrod by Lord Derby. The southern boundary of Bulgaria is now the orucial question, and Russia must draw it further back or there will m« suredly be war. The interests of Austria and England are not, as is often represented, identical, or even similar. It is sufficient that she has interests vhioh lead her to make common oauso with England, and perhaps the 00-oporation of tho two powers, in oase of an alliance being eventuated, will be all the more cordial from tho faot that the cannot quarrel as their prospective share of advantages. To suoh a state of tension has the public mini been brqught that the most trivial oiicu instances are watohed in order to discover their Bignificmco

in determining tho chances of war luul poaco. Thun, when tho Earl of Bonconnfield goes to Windsor to transact business with tho Quoon, iw ho did two days fiyo, tho odds in favor of war immediately got \in. Another of the little straws ii tlto departure of the Duohess of Edinburgh from Mnlta for Sicily, tho Duko having also loft his ship for Malta. Theso things eicito the ounosity of tho (luidnuncs, but of courso thoy do not count for much with thoso who have to look at tho moro serious con»iderfttions whioli arise. _________