THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8911, 27 October 1905, Page 4

THE WEEK.

Europe is bubbling. The Continent is seldom without a political simmer but the present condidtion is of the acute kind which recurs with unfortunate fre- 1 quency, and which threatens to cause ' grave complications and even embroil some of the big nations in war. For after all a very slight thing may send two greats Powers flying at ,ea^ o throats. In, the intricate game of Empire the cause of action is not always apparent and it frequenty .happens that it remains for the future to (reveal designs when the need fox j secrecy has been removed.' An instance of the kind, which may possibly be in

point, occurred this week, the startling announcement having been made that a Russian officer, well-informed of the affair, told Admiral Fremantle that the Dogger iiank outrage was intentional, its purpose being to embroil France and cause a European war. Most people, we think, will find it difficult to believe such an assertion to be true although twisted judgment and wrong-headed action in times of great excitement are by no means rare. The occasion chosen by Admiral Fremantle for his disclosure, namely, at the Nelson banquet in London, waiT not a happy oxw. Fortunately the allegation does not to appear to have interfered with the arrangements now in progress for an entente with Rus6ia.

It is not unlikely tliat Admiral FremantJe's "exposure" will meet a similar fate — a flat denial — to that which befel the recent

"revelations" of Le Matin, and it would have been better left unsaid unless the evidence at hand was absolutely, incontrovertible. The relationship just riow^existing between Great Britain and Russia is more promising than" it has been" for" a long time and it is to be hoped that when tho leaven of reform lias done its work in the dominions of the Czar, and the bureaucracy has been subordinated to the will of an enfranchised people, there will be a complete understanding between the two peoples. Russian duplicity has been proverbial but- that is probably not. because the nation is inherently corrupt hv£ corruptible. And tho times and conditions lent themselves to wrong-doing. Those who have studied the Russian people, jipart from the indefensible and frequently outrageous conduct of the political heads, affirm that a closer acquaintance .with" them, should be cultivated by the British people. Incidentally the recent: special" bitterness of Germany, and the. attacks on Lord Lansdowne, are explained by the negotiations between Great Britain and Russia having become known. An"d~ this new development, folknving ' upon 'the entente cordiale with France, has made Germany very angry. - —

The strained feeling overj_t.he' attempted isolation of France by Germany is not improved by the sensational declaration of Mr Lanessan diat the fortressesi on the eastern frontier of France would be -unable

to resist bombardment by the powerful guns that Germany possesses." He saysthat Germany has howitzers^ capable of' throwing projectiles weighing forty kilogrammes and mortars which will project missiles weighing 145 kilogrammes, filled with powerful explosives. ~ This great" superiority of big arms over those pos--sessed by France must - necessarily be alarming at the present juncture for at one" point of attack, and that a' very suitable one for Germany, France is placed at a very great disadvantage. ' ' -

A writer in. the Fortnightly' Review points out that the one weak link in the French chain, of •natural frontiers is that on the north-east, which is op.en, and guarded only by a line of forts, aboflt five miles apart, stretching for' 200 miles, ~and it is here that the gnnsrare weak. For centuries France has fought to make- the Rhine her political and natural frontier, and: the condition! of affairs how revealed by the readiness of Germany a-rad the unreadiness of France shows the latter to~"be~fur-

ther from the accomplishment of her desires than ever, and Germany's hold over Alsace to be immovable.^ '-Indeed, as a,n instance of what Germany has done in the direction of fortifying theceded" provinces, ft is stated that the fortress of M.etz "now practically extends over twenty-miles of country, aaid is therefore almost unbesiegable. But with Europe bubbling, the hand of Great Britain '.will be the more welcome to France, especially in view of that virtually unprotected frontier.

The all-powerful guilds of "China have done their work effectively and modern America has been pulled up with a sharp' turn by the nation which was thought to be rusting in its old ideas. When_-it is stated that £1,500,000 worth of American textiles are lying unpurclmsed at Shanghai and that within- a- comparatively short time over £5,000,000 worth of American goods have been stuck up the oxtentjof the boycott will be readily understood. It is interesting to notice the change that this treatment has brought about in America's exclusive policy., "We come short of our duty towa-rds China," President Roosevelt 16 reported i»s ha.ving said, and the exclusion law ought to be' operated with as. little harshness as possible; showing every courtesy, consideration, and encouragement to the Chinese, guaranteeing

all except coolies the same right- of entry and the same treatment as we. guarantee to the citizens of _any other nation." This is a great victory for. the -Chinese upper classes, but it is a question whether", Hay-_ ing proved thi power of _t.he boycott, China will not presently- "suggest" the removal of the restrictions from coolies' also. And America's experience of to-day may be Au6tralasia'6 experience, to-morrow — tomorrow when our export t/rade. to China will have become a vit.nl matter.

The tragical struggle for- 'emancipation continues in Russia, and the end still

seems afar off. From -day to" day, a.nd week to week, the. crim&on story of ruthless suppression and bloodshed .is continued. Here and there - the apparent hopelessness of the people" ie. relieved by a Royal ray of promise, but its fulfilment ~ia long-deferred. In the streets there' is butchery and industrialism is entirely diflocated. The strikes which, it was thought, were] settled, have,< again broken out with Tenewed severity. Those participating are resorting to petty violences, only to be cruelly crushed bytHe" everready Cossack. Government shops" are ' sacked, railways destroyed. ,and in" some, places positive anarchy prevails. .-And all the while messages continue to come from the Czar. He is all, commiseration. His 'desire is to be a constitutional ,' Sovereign like King Edward. But he 'is not sure that the people desire the change!

In this colony the centre of public interest is rapidly changing from Parliament to the platform, and in a week or two the people will be plunged into the' excitement of a general election. So far as this district is concerned no very keen int-erest has yet been shown, but in common with other constituencies the spirit of party fight will no doubt develop as election day draws nearer. Just now farmers are possibly keeping a closer eye upon th» weather than upon the political campaign, and_it is pleasing to note that tie climatic conditions are mild so far as the ' temperature is concerned, notwithstanding [ the- fact that a great deal of rain has fallen. The news regarding the butter Lmarket is not so satisfactory, but .there is no cause for alarm. The effect on the market is easily accounted for by the large increases in importations during re- [ cent weeks, but- iif is thought by those who ought to know -that the rate cannot be maintained. The freeing of the cargoes that "were blooked in the Suez canal also contributed to the result.^ In consequence of the latest methods of adulteration there is still- a greater demand for unsaJted than for salted butters-