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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7491, 1 June 1885, Page 2

The important news has at last arrived that the negotiations between England and Russia have been satisfactorily concluded, and that all present danger of a great war is <at an end. That in the course of a few years the dispute will be renewed* and that some time or other England and Russia will come to blows, few people doilbt. War, lioWever* is almost the greatest of All evils which can befall & nation, and A Wise and patriotic Government does well to keep out of it unless under tlis gravest pro vocation. A Minister once said that he went into a war with a light heart; and that war before it was finished appeared as if it would absolutely ruin his country. In the present case there is much difference of opinion as to VfhethOr the English Government has shown a proper degree Of firiririesS. in these Colonies OpinioA is almost Unanimously against them. Whether rightly or not, meti persist in thinking that, by hesitation and yielding, Mr Gladstone has encouraged Russia to make fresh raids in Central Asia whenever she sees an opportunity of doing so safely. Great as the blessings of peace are, the prayer, “Give peace in our time,” is often a selfish one. Constant yielding to demands may secure temporary peace, but in the end only : tempts an aggressive Power to greater boldness. The phrase “Peace with dortour ” was worn threadbare in Lord Bbaconsfield’s day, but doubtless the admirers of the present Administration will invent some similar one for the present occasion. Children, when they squabble, struggle who shall have the last word, or the last blow, and in the end Mr Gladstone and Lord Granville have been actually successful in having proposals made by them accepted by Russia.