The Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1379.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3609, 4 November 1879, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1379.

The revival of trade in England is good news for the world of which she is Baid to be the workshop, but more especially for the Colonies, whose interests are necessarily closely bound up in the commerce and financial prosperity of the mother»country. Apart, however, from this intelligence, the news from Europe recently must be regarded as very perplexing, if not disquieting. The jealousies and animosities of Governments, the interests of whose peoples are generally held to be opposed, have apparently ceased and professions of friendly relationship obtain ; nevertheless, there are not wanting indications that, below the superficial gloss of diplomatic courtesies they rankle as viciously as ever. The love of aggrandisement, the thirst for glory, the mad ambition which stimulates the pulses of the nations may for the time be stilled ; the hopes of the peoples may be excited by the prospect of the revival of industry and the extension of commerce ; confidence in the stability of financial institutions may sweep away the uncertainty whioh paralyses the operations of oapital and destroys labour ; and yet political tranquility be far from the world. Notwithstanding the generally satisfactory character of appearances, it will be found that suspicion and jealous distrust are not absent, and that the Governments of Europe still hold it the safest policy to be abundantly fore-

armed

Turkey is again sick. This unfa appy conntry is not only the victim of many disorders of her own, but she is the cause of general disorder to others. She has failed to effect any of the reforms to which, under' the convention with England, she stood pledged in Syria, whilst the condition of her Government north of the Dardanelles remains unimproved. The overthrow of an able administrator and reliable constitutionalist like Khair Ed -in Pasha destroys what little hope remained that any genuine effort would be made to carry out the stipulations with England for the amelioration of the government and the development of the resources of Syria. The failure of Turkey in this respect exposes the British Government to the charge of having become unnecessarily involved in disconcerting responsibilities almost impossible to fulfil, and of encouraging expectations in a people which there is little hope can ever be realised. The weak Sultan is powerless to cope with the difficulties of his country ; his palace is the theatre of constant intrigue ; and Ministerial embroglios and political ferment are the rule. Already it is suspected that Rußßia regards the moment opportune for the putting forward once more of her impossible to be settled olaim. As for unhappy Russia, she seems to have reached a truly deplorable condition. Many thousands of the best educated of her people have been sent into a fatal banishment ; her dungeons are full and new prisons are rapidly in progress of erection. In its foreign policy, the Government is apparently as active and as unscrupulous as ever. It is stated that before the recent outbreak at Cabul, Ameer Yakoob placed in the hands of Major Oavagnaki three letters whioh he had had received from General Kauffman, whom fate Beems to be constantly pushing forward with surreptitious overtures, which, when discovered, are promptly disavowed by his Government. Perhaps it was owing to the knowledge obtained through the late Ameer that Russian intrigue in Afghanistan bad not ceased, and was not likely to cease, that the British Government finally resolved upon the permanent annexation of the country. In Siam, and even in Burmab, ib is re* ported that proofs of Russian intrigue have been discovered.

At Teheran, Russian influence dominates the Court, and the moßt energetio efforts have been made to pueh the boundaries of the Muscovite Empire down to the lines of Persia. There can be no doubt, however, that the third attempt to reach Merv has resnlted in disaster. Russian policy, however, never wavers, and is not to be changed by repeated defeats. Already fresh preparations are in progress, and wben the proper season arrives a force numbering 40,000 men will again press southward in Turkestan. Whilst these events are going forward in Asia, the Russian Government is largely adding to the number of its ships of war. In America a number of clipper steamers of the Sbenandoah class have been purchased. These ships, evidently designed to prey upon the commerce of an enemy, are being stationed in different parts of the world, and it iB worthy of note that two of them quite recently have been sent to the Pacific. In the meantime a grand military review is to be held, at which 100,000 of the finest troops of the Russian Empire will be marshalled

for display. To this brilliant and imposing spectacle all the potentates of Europe-rexcepfc England — have received invitations. The empire of many nationalities, Austria, presents to the world the divided front characterißtio of her historical policy. She hae, however, in the acquisition of Bosnia and Hersegovina tasted Turkish blood, and now watches the movements of Rußsia with prudent care. The attitude of the three great imperial powers of Europe towards each others must be regarded as the most important of all considerations. In the beginning of August last the Emperora William and Francis met at a retired watering place called Gastein in Austria, and the meeting — although not much importance was attached to it at the time — is to be regarded now as of great political significance. From the time of this association many exchanges have taken pace, and guarantees offered and accepted of the most friendly relations. A month later visits of courtesy took place between the Czar and the Emperor of Germany, bat the the amour propre of Russia had in the meantime been ruffled in many ways. Count Andrassy retired from the Austrian Government on August 15, yet he made an avowedly official visit to Prince Bismarck ten days after. This, taken in connection with the meeting of the Austrian and German monarch s, first disclosed the fact that an alliance of a close nature had been determined npon. Thereupon an angry war raged between the Russian and German Frees, in which the former accused the German Government of a desire to place Russia in a position of complete isolation. The London Press regards the alliance established between the Austrian and German Emperors as security against Russian aggression, but what the policy is upon which the two potentates have agreed must be left to the future to reveal. Though apparently heedless of Russia, the German Government has shown that they are not indifferent to the progress of events in France. S3 much so that' Prince Bismarck has given assurances to the French ambassador that the friendship which has been formed between Austria and Germany " ought not to cause disquiet to the French Government and people," to which is added the gratifying sentiment that " the desire of Germany is to live at peace with all her neighbours." Security for peace, nowever, is not to be found in the professed desire of the Government of any one people. The bursting up of the triple alliance must be regarded as a gain to Europe, affording as it does some degree of security to weak Powers ; for whatever other combinations it may cause to be formed, it is hardly probable that the three largest and strongest Empires upon the Continent will again be found banded together for the accomplishment of a common purpose. One, at least, may be expected to lend her influence to stay the hand of aggression against a weak neighbour.