Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7552, 3 February 1886, Page 4

The Earopean Powers, following up their coercive action towards Greece, have, it is said, presented a note to Servia and Bulgaria demanding the instant demobilisation of their forces. This perhaps renders their course consistent, but does not explain its arbitrariness. Behind this sudden determination which they have formed to compel peace in the south-east of Europe there is the vague fear that the warlike spirit displayed by the minor States bordering on Turkey, or embraced within her dominions, may result in a rising of all the oppressed nationalities of Europe. It is apparently an apprehension of this nature that has moved Prince Bismarck to expel from Prussia the Poles who had taken refuge there with the view of escaping Russian oppression. The reason assigned for such a course is that the Poles were not loyal. Thisi cannot mean that they were plotting against the Power that protected them, but that they were engaged in some devices for making a freeh attempt to release their country from the Russian yoke. This wonld explain the approval which the expulsion has met with from the Russian Diet. That a conflict between Russia and Germany is impending, is certain ; but Bismarck does not wish it precipitated by any hasty insurrection on the part of the Poles ; and, apart from this, the attempt by them at this time to recover their independence would raise some unpleasant questions for both Germany and Austria, as well as Russia. By combination, these Powers could, of course, easily crush any rising in Polaud; but Germany has no desire to be mixed up with Russia in such work. And hence she orders across her borders all Poles whoae homes once lay within that portion of their country occupied by Russia. At the same time this expulsion shows the sensitiveness with which the resuscitation of national feeling among subdued races or small States is regarded by the large Powers, and explains their eagerness to suppress the revolutionary and aggressive tendency manifested at present in the Balkan Principalities, as well as in Greece. But is the way they are going about the business likely to accomplish that purpose ? This, to say the least, is very doubtful. It may postpone the storm for a little, but that storm will come nevertheless, and may be the fiercer for the check imposed on it. The chances are too that the dictatorial attitude they have assumed towards Greece, Servia, and Bulgaria, may only be the means of

hastening it. Should all these StateT"" bine in refusing to respect their manda?' 11 ' disarm, as they are certaia to d 0 •» they then attempt to compel '&• obedience by force? Whether they h so or not, that which they have alr« a done will certainly tend to ripen *«h plot which is threatening over the Balk Peninsula. * a