PRUSSIA AND FRANCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 115, 9 July 1875, Page 9

PRUSSIA AND FRANCE.

Much concern is still felt in political circles here about theforcio-n relations of France. It is remarked that Prussia has been labouring for a long time past to create a fresh dispute with us with a view to a renewal of the conflict on terms disadvantageous to us With this object in view the Prussian Government is playino- a game precisely similar to that she practised in ISG6, when the war with Austria wa? brewing. Then, as now, there was a " reptile press," though not then called by that highly appropriate designation; and the subservient newspapers brought incessant* accusations against Austria of making secret preparations for war, and of having troops in readiness for immediate campaign They asserted with unblushing falsehood that Austria was organizing formidable armaments, that she was enlisting and training soldiers by the hundred thousand, casting cannon innumerable 3 and proctising her troops to field manoeuvres on the largest scale' in order to take Prussia unprepared and crush her by a coup de' main, and annihilate her military power, and her national indepen dence by one sudden and decisive blow. To-day the Berlin papers are saying just the same things of France, and with the same brazen disregard of facts known to all Europe. Nothing could be more obviously untrue than that France entertains any intention of going to war with Prussia, much less any eagerness for the speedy outbreak of hostilities ; and yet the Berlin papers are attributing such projects to us. Especially do they credit us with a mania for the re-capture, at a early date, of Alsace and Lorraine or, as by Prussian ordinance those fair provinces are now to be called " Elsass and Lothringen." Of course we have a ri°-ht to o- e t

back, if we can, what we have lost; nay more, it will become our duty to our country to make the attempt some day or other • but the present time is assuredly not the time to draw the sword "nor will it be for at least the next ten years to come. This is the simple truth, as every intelligent Frenchman knows perfectly well Bismarck is afraid lest France should recover from her defeats and he wants a good pretext for war that he may attack her at once and with more fatal and crushing effect than in 18'7O, and effect once for all her utter ruin as a nation and as an European Power and bring about her still further dismemberment. ' He does not mean to wait until we have reorganised our army before he attacks us, and he thinks the time present the best for commencing 1 the strife. Add to this, that the German Chancellor is known to be constantly telling his friends that France is the stronghold of Catholicism still, even after all that she has suffered ; France is still the rendezvous of all the most determined opponents of that infidel revolution which now weighs like an incubus on the civilized world, and of all who are resolute in asserting and maintaining the sacred rights of the Holy See. These are reasons sufficient toiceep alive the blind hatred and fury of Prince Bismarck against us ' He hopes to annihilate at one blow both France and the Catholic Church. The meeting of the two crowned heads at Venice wag also a source of irritation to him, because he took it as a demon stration against his own policy. In fact it is stated on authority" regarded here as authentic, that the two sovereigns concerted together as to the better securing of the guarantees for the safety and independence of the Holy See. Any such counsels would of course, exasperate Prince Bismarck, and not being at liberty to show his displeasure to Austria and Italy, he turns all the heat of his anger upon France. I happen to know that a very distinguish ek diplomatist said the other day in a salon at Paris that the Gterniar, Government did not long since address to the French Government certain demands, that were at once rejected as incompatible wifh the national honour. Hitherto the Due Decazes, out Minister £ Foreign Affairs, has by dint of yielding wherever concession wat possible, and perhaps where it was barely excusable, succeeded \r> warding off the quarrel that Germany has been endeavoring m fasten upon us, But it may well be feared that the time is not fa* oft when no flexibility of opinion will avail to escape from thl humiL.ating demands made upon us by the Prussian ChancelW Frenchmen see their danger, and are deeply impressed by the hSi atrairs are taking. For the last few days public securities of aS kinds have been rapidly declining in value upon Bourse and 1m alarm prevails amounting to little less than a panic. The BadiWU of all people, do not very much share in the general anxiety at thl prevailing reports Their organs assert that if they were ij powe? they should know how to quiet Bismarck. We, however, can S too well conjecture how they would purchase peace and curry favour with our enemy. The Radical prescription would be tr> follow his lead iv persecuting the church. At that price Fran Z might, perhaps, be allowed to remain unmolested for a time bS France is too Catholic for that ; better national ruin than nation! apostasy ! Prince Bismaick is well-informed as to our sentiments PRUSSIAN INTRIGUES. _ He has therefore ssnt forth amongst us a whole Wion of his spies to take plans of our fortifications, and draw up lists' of ££, habitants of every hamlet, to furnish accounts of our reso-m-nZ*" and, if required, to send in detailed reports of everything to Si head-quarters of Count von Moltke, Daily arrests of these" Z2 arc made by the French police. It is, as every one knows S Prussian system to leave nothing to chance. They will not mSe war until they have done everything to make success an absolute certainty; for the object now in view is not merely the conquest of France, but the suppression of the Catholic religion. il i ut!SC or AUSTRIA, FRANCE, AND THE POPE You may be quite sure that our own military authorities cherish no illusions as to tho intentions of Prussia. They a«S all that is possible to be ready for the crisis when ifc comes £5 what we may, however, we cannot hope to be as strong and as well prepared as our opponents ; but God will be on our side and that thought gives us comfort. We hope too to have Austrian" us in the approaching struggle, and the hope is confirmed by^he letter which the Emperor Francis Joseph has just written to thl Pope. His Majesty expresses himself in that letter in terms of filial devotion, and promises the Holy Father his best endeaToS on his behalf m case of an attempt being made by German vioSce prmtrigue against the Holy See.-French corespondent of the