THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 22

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

AN IMPORTANT SPEECH.

(Reutbu's Telegisams )

Berl,ix, January 11. During the debate on the second reading of the Army Bill, Count Yon Moltke stated that if the bill were rejected war was certain to result. Prince Bismarck paid that the relations between Germany and Austria were intimate and cordi.tl, vrith the other Powers they were excellent, and the rotations with Russia were beyond doubt good. Good relations also existed vtiMi France,

though it- was more- difficult "to* maintain them. "He neither apprehended hbr was afraid of a war with France. It was; put of the question that Germany would attack France, but the past made it impossible to rely on a permanent peace with that country. It was therefore necessary to be always prepared for war. Germany, he added, would never begin a war with Russia, and " would never make an enemy of tha'u country for the sake o{ Bulgaria. PRINCE BISMARCK SPEAKS PLAINLY.

In his speech in the Reichstag to-day, Prince Bismarck alluded to the difficulty of preserving peace between Russia and Aus,tria. He expressed full trust in 'the French statesmen now in power, but was convinced war between France and Germany would occur sooner or later,. The' time when the conflict would take _place would depend on ; the stability of. the French Ministry. 'If Germany were victorious she would not rest until France should be crippled for generations. In conclusion Prince Bismarck 1 insisted on the bill being passed without amendment, otherwise Parliament would be dissolved.