STARTLING EUROPEAN CHANGES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 614, 22 April 1878, Page 2

STARTLING EUROPEAN CHANGES.

A correspondent of tlio Pall SI,-ill Gazette writes:—"Tho danger of English interests being menaced nearer homo than ;\,t Constantinople or tho Dardanelles has frequently been referred to in your columns, and is believed to be a very real one by those who have some knowledge of the secret tendencies of Continental diplomacy. There is, I. understand, good reason to believe that the late mission of M. Gambetta to Paly was connected with this matter. It is known that the French Republicans have for some time been opposed to the idea of pursuing a policy ct' revenge towards Germany, and that, on the contrary, they have striven to maintain good relations with her. "Prince Bismarck is said entirely to reciprocate this conciliatory spirit, and lie rendered a most valuable service to the Republicans by forcing Marshal M'Mahon, at tho moment when a roup d'clal seemed imminent, to tlrrow over his Hoiiapartist and Legitimist friends and accept a .Republican Ministry. Since then tho Prince has been in frequent communication with M. Gambetta, who is believed to have gone to Italy with the object of laying before the Cabinet of the Quirinal a plan of coalition between Germany, Italy, and France. According to this plan France is to be reconciled to her losses after the war of IM7O by having Lorraine restored to her, and by being allowed to take Belgium. Alsace, having a population of German nationality, would be recognised by Franco as part of the German empire. Germany would recoup herself for tho loss of Lorraine by biking Holland; while Italy would be rewarded for her complicity in the arrangement by the restoration of Savoy, which France could well spare on becoming the possessor of the fertile plains and rich coalfields of Belgium. It seems (hat the Italian Government has not as yet pronounced any decisive opinion on this plan, but that the liegooiatioiis are still in progress,"