THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1888.

The political position of Europe becomes a bewildering puzzle in the hands of those who seek to mirror the public opinion there for the information of those who dwell at the antipodes. That the solution of the difficulty now distracting Europe must be found in war at some time or another, seems hardly disputable. Yet it is declared by the Under - Secretary for Foreign Affairs that " the peace of Europe is more assured than a year ago." This assertion, which is the repetition of similar assurances on the same subject vouchsafed by the Imperial Government before, seems rather inconsistent with the massing of large forces by Russia in the vicinity of the Austrian frontier, and the reports of the preparations intended by Austria to repel. such a threatened invasion ; but the latest turn of events would seem to show that the movement on the part of Russia was merely intended as a demonstration for diplomatic purposes; that nothing of the nature of an attack on Austrian territory was contemplated, but that the display of force was intended to bring pressure on Austria and Germany, so as to win their consent to operations in Bulgaria. This is shown in the note which the Czar has sent to the two German Powers, requesting them to advise the Sultan to demand the departure of the " usurper Prince Ferdinand" from the throne of Bulgaria, and promising that if Austria withdraws her objections to this course, the Russian forces on the Galician frontier shall be immediately withdrawn. From later intelligence it appears that the Powers are disinclined to concede to this gentle pressure, and will inform the Czar of their opinion that the deposition of the elect of the Bulgarian people would be the unsettling of everything; so that if this only has been the object of the mobilization of the Russian forces, the demonstration has been fruitless. It may be, however, that there has been a twofold object, and that Russia, contemplating an actual advance on Bulgaria, may have placed this army on the frontier to prevent being taken on the flank by Austria while operating in the Balkan territories. If this is so, then the outlook would be more unsatisfactory, as despite the coquetting between Prince Bismarck and the Czar with respect to Germany's indifference to the Bulgarian question, Austria could not stand indifferently by . while Russia was 1 confirming her ascendancy in the

Balkan district, merely preparatorily to a march on Constantinople. The fact, however, of these assurances of the prospects of peace in so high quarters gives strength to the belief that the movements of Russia on the Austrian frontier, whateveiiithey were, have only been made for diplomatic purposes. Turning to England, it is gratifying to see that in the face of these complications among the nations of Europe, and in view of the interests of the Empire, the feeling of patriotism is supreme, and that in its presence the voice of party is hushed. After hearing the explanations of the Government, and the assurances at once of the general prospects of peace, and of the friendly relations in which England stood towards other nations, and more especially France, the great leader of tIA Opposition, and of the people of England, expressed his satisfaction with the assurances given by the UnderSecretary for Foreign Affairs, and said that he was " quite satisfied that Lord Salisbury's Foreign policy was generally sound." Anything more confirmatory of the assurance of England being free from complications involving possible war, we could hardly expect. The Tory Government is not unreasonably, from past experiences, credited with being quick in quarrel, and with having a penchant for a " spirited Foreign policy;" and as a consequence it is doubtless watched with no small amount of keenness and suspicion by those who are anxious for the preservation of peace; and when Mr. Gladstone himself, one of the foremost of those who are opposed to England's being drawn into war, speaking for himself, and to those who trust and follow him, expresses his belief in Lord Salisbury's foreign policy, and generously says that the party which he led did not desire that Government should prematurely disclose what action they were taking in consequence of the disturbed state of Europe, we have every evidence that the clearest heads on both sides of Parliament are assured at least of England's freedom from foreign entanglements, and the improbability of her being very immediately involved in war.