BISMARCK'S FAIR FOE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 32

BISMARCK'S FAIR FOE.

How th'^Equanimitv of the "Man of Blood and Iron" is said to be Disturbed.

A well-informed German, who has just returned tb'Vienna from Berlin, tells the following story of the influences of the Crown Prin- , cess of Germany in political matters :— , ," The German Emperor," he says, " has no ■ disease except that of old age, and he may live for a year longer. Prince Bismarck, however, knows that the Emperor cannot live for much more than a year, and may die in a month. Bismarck also knows that the Crown Princess will practically be

The Next Ruler of Germany. Now, the Crown Princess is almost a radical in politics. Left to herself she would at once bring into power the Freisi?mige, or Progressist party. The members of the Freiainnige party are able men, most of whom wish to remodel the German Empire by curtailing the Emperor's power and increasing very .materially the powers of the Reichstag. » ln short, they wish to reduce the Emperor to a purely ornamental figurehead on the English model, and in his place to set up .an all-powerful Parliament, also on an English model. The members of the Freisintoige are anti-monopolists, in part Freetraders, and, without exception, they desire the abolition of all repressive socialist or church laws. Briefly, therefore, they wish to reverse Prince Bismarck's policy in all important particulars. In order

To Curb the Crown Princese, Bismarck brought about the late elections and f orced-the issues ' in such a way as to obtain a strong Government majority of national liberalists, not, as he might easily have done, of Conservatives alone. By his orders the Conservatives gave way in many places to the National Liberals, so that while the Conservatives gained only a few seats the National Liberals have gained 40 or more seats. In continuation of this policy Bismarck will soon displace one or more Conservative Cabinet Ministers and replace them by National 'Liberal leaders, one of whom was, by the way, elected to the Reichstag by Bismarck's special command, because a very strong man is needed for the Ministry of Finance. In Herr Miquel, Bismarck hopes he has 'found the desired new leader. Another result of Bismarck's policy has been the annihilation of the Freisinnige party, which is now cut down from 67 to under 20 members.

The New Reichstag: has three years to run ;• therefore, when the Crown Princess begins to rule Germany she will find a majority too strong to be lightly dismissed, and of Liberal but not dangerously Badical tendencies. Bismarck hopes that, whereas the Crown Princess might have dissolved a Conservative Parliament, she will, at least, try for a while to use the Liberal majority provided for her. Perhaps he also hopes that a year or two of such trial will give' her a new idea of the difficulty of governing through Parliament a nation which has to contend with che absolute power of Russia. The National Liberals will never consent to curtail the Emperor's powers; and with Conservative aid can be depended upon to resist any violent or sudden alteration of the policy which Bismarck has already planned for his successor. They are guspected of a leaning toward Freetrade, but this will be neutralised by the high tariff beliefs of the Centre Catholic party, which has already informally agreed to aid the Conservatives in resisting any lowering of the present tariff. - Bismarck is destroying

all The Crown Princess' Political Friends, but at the same time providing her with a new set of friends sufficiently to her taste to make it hard for her to quarrel with them. There is no mistake so great as to suppose that Prince Bismarck is not providing for the future. When he dies it will be found that not only has he provided a policy for his successor, but that this policy is so arranged that even its bitterest enemy, the Crown Princess, will be forced to carry it out. What Bismarck greatly dreads is that the Crown Princess will force Germany into a Russian war in order to sustain English interests in Bulgaria and Turkey. "If his Conservative friends in Berlin are correct," paid this informant, " Prince Bismarck has blunty warned Austria that he wants Russia to take Bulgaria, and that if Austria object or show fight, they do so at their own risk." It is also stated in Berlin, and it is without doubt true, that the dread of what the Crown Princess may do in the future is now a main factor in

forcing a French War upon Bismarck. The Emperor's death, he considers, would mean an almost instant war with Eussia; therefore, France must be crushed while the Kaiser is still alive, thus freeing Germany frem the fear of being crushed, in 1888 between France and Russia. The war with France therefore waits only until Russia shall' be too closely engaged in Bulgaria to' aid France. The informant had also much to say regarding the .diplomatic struggle which he states has lately gone on between Russia and Germany for an Italian alliance. This is the talk of the best informed Berlin' circles. ' He says the effort has been to bind Italy either to Kussia or Germany by

Profuse Offers of Territory.

Germany offered, it is said, all the old Italian provinces of France in return for the occupation of these provinces by Italy as soon as a Franco-German war breaks out, Uussia, on the other hand, offered the Austrian Tyrol to Italy in return for an Italian promise to remain neutral. Italy was at first a little dazzled ,by the German offer,' but after much wavering, finally decided that, the conquerer in any European -war must cripple the conquered by giving territory to Italy. That, therefore, by making no treaties ox promises Italy would

without risk gain all that, she could hope, to* gain by taking part in the war. For this reason the Berlineri believe Italy to be, still free from any treaty obligations, and are inclined to , think well of Italian diplomacyfor its farsightedness. • - <

, These statements at least, are interesting, , and, whether true or, false, they, show, the' situation as viewed by a clever German with exceptional opportunities to .obtain correct information. , • '< , ; <