RUMOURS OF WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 49, 10 July 1868, Page 3

RUMOURS OF WAR.

— $ — (From the Argus London Correspondence.) \ Humours of war on tho Continent still continue to occupy men's minds ; and tho assurances of tho French olUcial organs, by their vory oarnostness, seem oply to contribute to the uneasy fcejing. Ono of tho Government papers, tho Etendavd, contained tho othor day this ominous paragraph : X" If tho fear of war bo so easily oxeitod on our side of tbo Rhino, and übovo all in Prussia, it cannot bo denied that this sonsitivoness of public opinion is duo to tho attitudo of tho German press laat year with roferonco to tlio Luxemburg question. Tho penco of the world, wo havo not ceased to ropoat, and wo say so onco moro, depends loss on tho good will of Franco than on tho political wisdom of sia."No ono can mistake tho moaning of thoso words. Tho poaco of tho world is mado to depond upon tho political wisdom of Prussia, which may bo intornroted in any sonso Franco pleases. What if it is thought in Paris that thoro is no political wisdom in Prussia? And yot nothing is moro likely than that that which is considered political wisdom in Berlin would bo denounced as political folly in Paris. Tho roferonco to Luxemburg in tho nbovo paragraph is vory : significant just now. But why neod | wo hesitate to express our misgivings ; of danger, whon we have Marshal Noil 1 himself, tho fa vourito gonornl of France,) land tho trustod friond of tho Emperor, arguing thus iv tho Corps Lcghlatif: | —"You must know, gontlomon, tliat thoro is at Borlin a man of genius, ft man whoso singular abilities to organiso a war and carry it out successfully hns boon amply .demonstrated- by tho Sndowa campaign, That man is Gonoral You Moltko. Woll, it isjifi. secret that ho sponds his timo pormg ovor a map of France, and framing tho plan for an nggrcssivo campaign, which would bo only too popular across tho Rhino." It is truo tliat -M. Houher endeavoured in a subsequent spooch to romovo tho impression mado by his colloaguo; but pooplo cannot holp thinking that Marshal Noil is moro likely to bo truo than M. Itouhor. Among tho powers who m likoly to fight, oach is asking his neighbour lo disarm, and protesting that ho himsolf cannot do with a singlo soldier less. Neither t Franco nor Prussia has any sorious idoa of disarmament; nnd ns long ns theso two tf.ro in a stato fit for immediate war, thoro is always causo for anxiety. Tho two prominout questions of tho day of a possible warliko tondoncy aro Schleswig and Poland, Prussia continues to rofuso compliance with that artielo in tho treaty of Proguo, which required hor to givo up a portion of North Schloswig to Denmark, and tho Fronch Emporor is unquestionably irritated at n rofusal whioh looks liko a direct snub to Franco, Tho fooling iv regard to tho obliteration of Poland by tho two powers, Jksaia and Prussia, is ovon strongor with tho Fronch, Thoro has alway* boon a dcop sympathy in Franco ior tho Polish causo, and tho last measures takon in concert by tho Russian and Prussian Governments for tho absolute orasuro of tho namo of Poland from tho map of Europo, havo inflicted a doop wound in Fronch sontimont. Mow much longor this stato of things may continue without a positive outbreak no ono can say. At preaont nil tho burdons of war mo boing borno by tho principal continental powers, and ns no ono will mako a beginning in disarming, thero is considerable dangor Ito tho public poaco. lathe meantimo, [a Russian journal, the Qohs, less 'roservod than tho other official organs

of Europe, thus sounds tho depths of tho situation ; — "Tho French Government may roitcrato its pacific assurances aa inueh as it pleases— -tho extensive armaments wliicb aro taking place in Franco, and . aro boing pushed on with tho utmost vigour, nro a proof that Napoleon IH. ia meditating a great European war j thnt is a fact boyond question. Against whom ia Franco arming ? That can* not bo answered with any degree of precision ; but tho voice of the people says against Russia and Prussia, It . is difficult to suppose that Napoleon 111., who only acta unless ho is pretty nearly suro of success, means to attack simultaneously two Powers, each of whom individually is a formidable adversary. It is moro probablo that ho will try and obtain tbo alliance, or, at lonst, tho neutrality of one, whilst ho attacks tho other. It is probablo that an attempt will be mado to conciliate Russia, and in tho meanwhilo an ondeavour will bo made to lull tho suspicions of Prussia by a talo of tho war preparations being meant for Russia. But it is not likely thnt so clover a man as Couut Bismarck will bo caught napping. Tho designs of Napoleon 111. must bo as woll known at Berlin as thoy are at St. Poteraburgh. . . Tho attempt to broak up tho nllianco between Russia and Prussia muat fail. . . . » „ Tho long and short of the matter is, that tho armaments of France are A dangor to tho poaco of tho world, and by hook or by crook, Europo must bo\ disbanded of the crushing military ex- * penso which the attitude of Franco entailed upon her. The simplest way would bo for Russia and Prussia simultaneously to apply to Franco for au immodiato disarmament, promising to follow hor cxamplo. No doubt that would bo a gravo step— an interference in tho domestic concorns of tho French emniro ; but thero is uo help for it, nnd it is called for by tho general interests of Europo."