ENGLAND'S DANGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5463, 15 January 1896, Page 1

ENGLAND'S DANGER.

(Frbm the Lyttelton Times.) Little by little, the " undeveloped danger " that threatens England's national supremacy, is being exposed, and it now seeims that Germany's attitude on the' Transvaal question was only part of a sinister scheme of European .diplomats, eager to exclude England from any voice in the distribution of Turkish, territory, which they assume must shortly take place. The j key to the situa^on. is provided by the Duke of Westminster's refusal to put further pressure on' her Majesty's Ministers ■■in.", order to Becure the introduction of reforms in Armenia, " as England cannot' act alone' wittiojut .risk -of war." .This > means that the European " concert ;"> on the subject of coercing the Sultan is very much of a- sham, or at any rate that Russia is conductor, with' France playing first violin, and that -the effective reforms for which the iEngMeh people have been agitating are as far off realisation as ever. ; It appears that England's insjfifcence Upon humane government ill • Turkey has been carried to the ; point at which her isolation has been: practically completed, and a combination, embracing Trance, Eussifc and Germany, has been, formed ;to -defeat England's policy. These three Powers were first drawn together by mutual hostility to England in thej. dispute between China and Japan. Theleaddng newspaper of Vienna, the Xtfiud, Freie Presse, commented upon this l rapprochement in November last, pointing out that Germany was willing to support Eussian aggression in Asia, and even in Turkey, altogether regardless of British interests. \ This is the Bismarckian policy revived, viz., to keep the Muscovite busy far away from the German frontier. Even the newspapers, of Berlin were discussing, two months ago, the advisableness of German politicians assuming "an attitude which guarantees to Russia Germany's neutrality, even if Eussian ambitiongoes as far as British India." The Echo, from which we quote, held it to be a matter of no importance to Germany if the French press closely upon England in Egypt, and the Russians do the same thing in „ China, and .: it ... boldly sugi gested that Eussia and France would find it more to their advantage to combine ' against " rich and unwarlike England "than to turn their arms against V tough and warlike Germany." The National ZeiM^g, equally hostile .fcn'd. more offensive] sneered at the Wtis^fleekajsjb^ tlie mark,'?. arid' declared the British army to be " hardly of any consequence." The latter organ held that England must have peace ai; any prick, because war to-day, "when England's enemies have fully-developed fleets," would involve famine to the English people, and "amid the crash of the falling Empire would be heard the agonising cry of the starving masses." less than the ruin 'of the British Empire would seem to be the aim of the young gentleman who •now reigns at Berlin, and who. presumes to fldttt. and insult his grandmother. England's answer to German bluster, and to the preparations of France and Eussia for dividing the " Sick Man's " territory,is to be found in her vigorous naval and military preparations, which have inspired the warlike spirit of the people. When the French, Eussian and German eagles gather to batten on the carcase of Turkey, they will find the British Lion also there, prepared to maintain English interests and to assert the claims of justice and humanity, which the other Powers in their cruel selfishness altogether ignore. The temporary alarm in England is excusable, in the face .of a hostile combination of the three greatest fighting Powers of Europe;. but British energy, courage and patriotism will prove equal to any emergency that may arise. The eastern -waters and shores of the Mediterranean may ere long be the scene of a terrible conflict; but we may still hope that England's show of force and preparation will bring the blusterers to a sense of justice and humanity.