THE FRENCH PRESIDENT IN IST. PETERSBURG.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9816, 27 August 1897, Page 4

THE FRENCH PRESIDENT IN IST. PETERSBURG.

Ti-iK many difficulties in the way of the visit of the Iwoyeois President of the French Republic to the aristocratic Tzar of all the Russias have at length been overcome. One of the most difficult among the problems in etiquette which have vexed the souls of officials has been solved by the President leaving His wifo behind him. No doubt during the next few weeks there will be sounds of revelry in StPetersburg, :<nd the Russians will seek to emulate in splendour the recent Jubilee demonstrations. President Paurk will not bts received with quit 9 such extravagant enthusiasm as the French accorded to the Czar or even to his Admiral. The ladies of Petersburg will probably not rush his carriage in the streets in order to kiss him, especially as M. F/ojrk, though a douce worthy man, is distinctly houwoL-i. But his welcome will doubtless continue to be, as it has already been, uproariously enthusiastic, and a certain exalted person in Berlin will contrast it with his own recent reception, and rage inwardly. The visit, however, has much graver aspects than these. All Europe will be on watch during the next few weeks, Eor the visit is expected to bsav fi'iiit in a definite alliance between France and Bussia. Hitherto there has been little move between them than the entente cordkde ; fervid assurances of friendship on both sides ; and considerable sacrifices on the part of France to cement it. Now, however, it is expected that a definitive treaty will be signed. On June 11th last M. de Blow/tk, the Paris correspondent, committed himself to prophecy. He predicted that the visit would take place ; that it would oopuv in August ; that the President would proceed by sea ; and that he would be accompanied byM. Hanotaux, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. So far his information, has been verified by events. But he went further, and said that on the occasion of the visit there would be signed, either in Petersburg or in Moscow, a denuitive treaty of alliance, aud the signatories would be the Tsai* and the President, M. Hanotaux and Count Moukavieff. The treaty, says M. de Blowitz, will bo oue of the most laborious and cavefully considered diplomatic instruments which has ever settled the basis of alliauce between two nations. It has been eight yeavs in the making —that is to say, since 1889 —and has occupied the attention of | two Emperors and tbr.ee Presidents. | The negotiations were first opened be. | tween the late M. .Cabnoi and the late I Alexanoer 111. There was actually a definite compact signed, in the shape of a military convention, for which the pttjlimiuary notes -were interchanged, in 1892. The assassination of M. Caunot suspended negotiations for a treaty; they were resumed by President CAStium-PisaiEß, but again suspended by his unexpected resignaMP&t ....^ ce^mneA.aftor,, M. Faube's accession, and were again snspended by a change in the Russian Foreign Minister from Prince Lobanoff to Count Moueavieff. And now these J negotiations, after eight years' efforts, and various interruptions aud changes of personages in both countries, are about, if we may believe M. de Blowitz, to receive their definitive consecration on the occasiou of the visit. There are, indeed, other political meteorologists who have professed to see reoently signs of a coming alliance between the thvee Empires— Austria, Germany and Russia—and events, whilst the Turco-Groek crisis was acute, certainly lent colour to a suggestion in itself so plausible. It is probable, therefore, that if M. »c BfcowiTz's prognostications aye verified, there will not be anything in the treaty that will violently disturb the cordial relations of the Imperial States. Taken in conjunction, therefore, with the marked signs of increasing cordiality in the relations of France and England, it may fairly be hoped that caustfe are at present actively at work which will make for the continued peace of Europe.