A POWERFUL COMBINATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 33

A POWERFUL COMBINATION.

It ie a little singular that no.fiirther information baa come to hand

*■:■ with reference to the important item ofnevrawHich Wepiib.liahed among our&Loiidon' cable messages on Wednesday last.* It will be remembered that the statement! 1 as originally telegraphed was to the effect that an allianci&betweem&ermany aud England was reported as " being .arranged on a basis of England protecting the German colonies and Germany preventing a Hussian advance in Ihe direction of Stamhoul and Berat." A later.-version'attributed this report to the London Daily which had alleged that Prince Bismarck wa< trying to arrange an Anglo-German Alliance, Eugland's part being to protect German colonies in case of war witlt France, and that Lord Salisbury was inclined to ' look with favour on the proposal, provided Germany would make a Eussiari advance oh Oonstan tinople or Herat a casus belli. We have been looking daily for some further, intelligence ou this momentous matter, but not another syllable has been forthcoming. This is rather surprising. The proposal is by far-; the most important one which has been put forward for •many a long day. If it really tas auy basis in fact, one w ould have imagined that it would be eagerly di.-cu-sed by the English and Continental press. In that case the views of the chief organs of pnhlic ooinion wou'd have ;been of exceptional interest. It is inconceivable that, if such a scheme were actually under the consideration of the two Governments, it should not LaveV elicited much-comment, favourable or otherwise. For.it apparently implies the proposed formation of one oi the most powerful combinations—if not the most powerful—the world has ever seen. The Triple Alliance, in which Germany, A ustria and Italy are associated, was a mighty coalition strong enough in itaelf to defy a Ku-so-French combination or to maintain the peace by Tendering war too perilous to be entered upon by the two bellicose Power?. It was often remarked when that Triple Alliance was arranged that if by the inclusion of Great Britain the Alliance were ihado quadruple, the strength of bucli a confederation of first-class Powers would be absolule!y overwhelming. It would embrace the greatest military and the greatest naval Power in Europe with two other first-class military Powers, one having also a navy hardly second to any excepting that of England, tsuch.'/a" Coalition would be the best possible preservative of peace. How ever eagerly France or Russia might desire to advance on Alsace-Lorraine, Constantinople, or Herat, a Quadruple Alliance embracing England,Germany, Austria, and I-aly would be an insuperable barrier, especially aided as it would assuredly be by other nations ■long menaced by thr Powers whose presumed aggressive tendencies constitute theraison d' elre<)i the rumoured alliance. We take, it for granted that the scheme which has been outlined comprises within its scope all the parties to the Triple Alliance. The stipulation that the objects of the proposed coalition shall include the . prevention of any Russian advance on Constantinople .isT one that appeals directly to the interests of Austria and Italy, and can hardly fail therefore to enlist'; their co-operation. It wouid undoubtedly be a serious ■matter for England to enter into what must be deemed virtually an •offensive and defensive alliance with the greatest military Power in Eurone. The responsibilities thus undertaken might prove very awkward Great Biitan miaht find herßelf drawn into a war in which she would not appear to have a"j ostensible interest, arid txich a War would be unpopular in E.ngTaud.wheret fiedemnc'i ae y but doe« no! alwtiys s»"«'quite far enough beyond the tip of iss nose. It might Dot. be easy to convince the British (public that a naval war in defence of the German colonies was part of a - great t-cheme for securing the safety of .England. . and h*r dependetci-s Still some ri>k mii-t be run even in jpe'i'-detfMce and in endeavouring to .maintain the peace. The pre»eut', proposal is a bold and sinking one, ibut it possesses-a larger promise an«i potentiality of efficmy in checking a> y attempt at ayaresH'on and so in pr«eerving the peace, than an other plan vetsuggested We trope ! it may \ rove feasible. If so. peac. may be regarded a* as«u el so long as the entente cordiale amont' the high contracting Powers shall continue. The only course available

to the Powers antagonistic to the Alliance would be to await some disturbance of the good understanding, or perhaps to foment such a disturbance. The latter would probably be tried, bat forewarned and forearmed as the other Powers are the attempt ought to fail. It is to be hoped that; the Quadruple Alliance will become an accomplished fact. Nothing woulij do more to restore general confidence in the maintenance of peace, and this in its turn, by improving commercial confidence, wou’d' be of vast benefit to trade. ' «■