THE GREAT POWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 24 April 1891, Page 3

THE GREAT POWERS.

THE OUTLOOK BF.COMING MORE SERIOUS.

RUSSIA'S ARDENT FRIENDSHIP FOR FRANCE.

Berlin, March 28,

The semi-official organs are advised to ignore the renewed war alarm and not to notice reports coming from various sources which indicate early aggressive action on the part of France and Russia. Persons high in official circles refuse to say more than that the intentions of Russia to abandon her attitude of reserve have been for some time known to the chiefs of the Dreibund, and that nothing can happen for which they are unprepared. The recent indiscreet assertion of Signor Crispi, the ex-Italian Premier, that war was certain tp occur during the current year, has elicited from official papers at Vienna comment to the effect that Signor Crispi is no longer in the secret of great events and has become incompotont to prophesy, and that what he saya ought not to disturb the tranquillity of Europe. Thie sort of denial, however, is not reassuring, as the fallen statesman is known to possess ample information regarding everything relating to both the political and military powers of Europu. It is believed in Bulgaria that the murder of M. Daltchieff, Minister of Finance, is the opening of a game of secret intrigue preceding an open conflict. The conferring by President Carnot of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor upon Baron deNohrenheim, 'Russian Embassador at Paris, ie merely a part of the general effusiveness of the alliance and of the endearments exchanged between France and Russia. The Czar to-day decorated M. Briois, military attache of. the French Legation, personally presenting him with the order set with brilliants, and also giving him a rare malachite vase and portrait of himself and the Czarina. Briois will shortly return to Paris. He is thoroughly conversant with Kussia's project for the mobilization of the forces, and upon his return to Paris some scheme for simultaneous action will be agreed upon by the French War Office. It is for this reason the Czar has conferred upon him a distinction never before accorded a military attache. In an interview had with General Obrontchouf to-day by a representative of the Reichstag the General declared that the unceasing rapidity of the .Russian preparations will enable the Czar before the close of the present year to abandon his attitude of peace and force any issue he may deem necessary to obtain his ends. Under the headline, " Strategic March of Russia Westward," the Reichsrote details the concentrating movements of Russian troops cantonned in Poland and the Padolia and Yolhynia provinces, which now form one vast camp. The ceremonial bestowal of the Russian Order of St. Andrew upon President Carnob ; the military preparations on both sides of the Russian-Austrian frontier; King Leopold's anxiety about English aid

to maintain Belgian neutrality in case of a general disturbance ; the efforts of Germany and Austria to establish a firm commercial treaty, the exact terms of which are kept secret, with the idea of using them also in commercial treaties yet to be made with Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, who would all be useless or troublesome, as the case might be, in the event of Russian aggression ; the French activity—all these things and some leeser signs are interpreted by some serious observers as meaning something in the way of business. Such views, however, must be taken with caution.