The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1878.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 20 November 1878, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1878.

“ The greatest diplomatic triumpli of the age,” viz., the Berlin Treaty, has yet to stand the test of experience. English Tories plumed themselves that the chief of the party had ac- ’ complished a great thing,—that Lord Beaeonsfield had outwitted the veteran statesman, Prince Gortsehakoff. But the fact of the matter is, that the British Premier did not rely upon his skill in the diplomatic art. He simply bullied. He had the resources of a mighty Empire at his back, the people of which were almost prepared to go to war at his bidding, it is said Bismarck was both astonished aud amused at the bellicose attitude assumed by the chief representative of Great Britain at the Conference. During the deliberations of the Congress the “jingo” party were in the ascendant, and any step which would have hastened a war with Russia, we dare say would have been regarded by the Tories as a bold and wise stroke of policy. It was repeatedly pointed out that there could be no more favorable time to enter upon a war with the great Northern Power than at the close of the late struggle wheu Russia was crippled after hereffortsin subduing Turkey. Thanks, however, to the vigorous opposition of Mr Gladstone, war was averted. Russia felt humiliated at the results of the Congress ; aud England taking possession of Cyprus and assuming the protectorate of Asia-Minor filled up the cup of humiliation to the brim. All classes of the Russian people were enraged at the action of England. It is no light matter to incur the enmity of a nation of seventy million people with a million trained soldiers. The power of England is immense, and in any place where her flag floats she would be able to hold her own against the might of Russia, But it is hard to say what the future may bring forth, and what Powers may be arrayed against us. Lord Beaconsfield's action has assured England the enmity of Russia in future complications. The telegrams which reached here a few days ago stating that war was probable between Great Britain and Russia, informed us that England would have the active co-operation of Austria, whilst France and Germany would remain neutral. No mention was made in reference to Italy, though it is almost certain that if Austria was engaged in an European war, the Italian Government would strike to acquire that portion of Italy still under the rule of the House of* Hapsburg. Besides, Austria is proverbially treacherous and vacilliating. Even if she were prepared to fight, little reliance is to be placed in her assistance.

Twice within the memory of the present generation the power of Austria has been broken by a single battle. Her resistance was at an end after the victory of the French at Solferino in 1859, and the same thing occurred a few years later in the war with Prussia. After Sadowa, there was nothing to stop the Prussian army marching to Vienna, and it was only prevented from going there by the strong protest of Nopoleon 111. No nation would be safe in relying upon any material assistance from Austria. If England goes to war with Russia, she will have to fight it out unaided by any other power, save what assistance Turkey may give, and that would be fully counterbalanced by the active hostility of the new states of Bulgaria, Servia, Montenegro, and Roumania.

By the Bombay G-azette we learn that the Government of India has already begun to gather the first fruits of Lord Beaconsfield’s new Eastern policy. Our contemporary sayß : —“ The Russian menace of active intervention in Afghanistan „is evidently intended as a counter stroke, and a very effectual one it will be, to the English occupation of Cyprus and assumption of a shadowy protectorate over Asiatic Turkey. This new move shows the steadfastness, the ceaseless activity, and the resources of Russian diplomacy. It puts England suddenly on the defensive again, before Lord Beaconsfield’s admirers have ceased to proclaim the wonderful success of the English Minister in reducing Russia to a state of humble acquiescence in the decrees of her great rival in the East. The discomfiture of Lord Beaconsfield’s grand designs is complete. It is as if a chess player, while contemplating with much satisfaction the results of a brilliant- combination of his own for capturing a rook or bishop in a distant corner of the board, were suddenly taken aback by hearing the .adversary declare check to his queen. Many persons surmised, that the Russians having done what they wanted for the present on the side of Turkey, would now begin to push forward again towards India through Central Asia ; and the fact that the Shah of Persia, on his second visit to Europe did not think it necessary to go to London, was regarded as an indication of intrigues carried on by Russia with the Court of Teheran. But nobody anticipated that the Czar’s agent would, before the ink of the Berlin Treaty was dry, offer a fresh and direct challenge to England by sending Russian troops across the Oxus and ostentatiously negotiating for the establishment of a Russian mission in Afghanistan. Only five years ago Prince Gortsehakoff formally declared that Afghanistan was beyond the limits of the territory over which it was desired that Russian influences should extend, and that the Emperor regarded that State as falling within the legitimate sphere of British influence. The compact is now' violated, and Russia may possibly contend that she is set free from it by the delared antagonism of British and Russian interests which is set forth in the Anglo-Turkish Convention. As by that Convention England secretly pledged herself to resist the further advance of Russia towards the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, Russia may on her part think herself justified in contracting other secret engagements which will allow of the expansion of her Empire in Central Asia.”

Not a long time has elapsed since Earl Beaeonsfield gave utterance to the conviction that there was room for both Eugland and Russia in Asia. On this, as upon many other important matters, he has completely changed his views, and now seems bent on dragging Great Britain into a war for the ostensible purpose of limiting the Asiatic power of Russia. The latter nation has met the challenge by stirring up strife on the Indian frontier. It is very unlikely that Russia will lend direct aid to the Ameer of Afghanistan, but those petty Indian wars are costly, and there is no knowing where they will end. The emissaries of the Czar, it is said, are working to induce Persia to enter in to an alliance with Afghanistan. All this goes to show that Earl Beaconsiicid’s policy has tended to stimulate Russia to intrigue the more in the East. Both Persia and Afghanistan are petty enemies in themselves, and can be easily punished ; but frequent disquietude in the East is a source of danger to England. Lord Beaeonsfield boasted that he had made “ peace wiih honor.” A lasting peace would have been preferable.