The socialistic Governments of Russia and France are quite as much at
their wits’ ends as we are to know how to overcome the difficulties
that are constantly arising. Hence they try to appease the ill-humours
of their populations by directing attention to foreign affairs. One of
the first acts of the socialistic governments had been to dissolve the
Triple Alliance. Austria sees herself threatened at the present moment
by Italy, in Istria and the Italian Tyrol. The opportunity of Austria’s
being thus engaged on another side appears a favourable one to Russia
and France for their adopting a high tone towards Germany. Accordingly,
both powers have addressed simultaneous notes to our Foreign Office,
requesting that within ten days, payment be made of the amount due for
goods supplied.
Now, how is it that France comes to be in the position of a creditor of
ours? As a matter of fact, we have drawn nothing whatever from France
except a few million bottles of champagne which were emptied in the
first intoxication of delight at the success of the great Revolution,
and before the State had taken the regulation of consumption into
its own hands. Russia, however, has had the perfidy to cede a part
of her claims on us to France, in order to construct a common basis
of operations against us. Our indebtedness to Russia has now run up
to over a milliard, although our imports of corn, wood, flax, hemp,
etc., from that country have only been the same as they were in former
times. These are imports which we absolutely cannot do without. But
the unfortunate part of the business is, that those manufactures which
we had been in the habit of sending to France and Russia, in the way
of exchange for imports, have of late nearly all been returned to us,
on the pretence of their not being at all up to the mark, of the price
being too high, and so forth. If such a thing had happened to us in
former times, we should simply have paid the Russians in Russian bonds
or their coupons, of which there was then no scarcity in Germany. But
having now no bonds, and no stock of noble metals to fall back upon, we
are rather bothered by the lack of a convenient means of exchange.
Our good neighbours are only too well aware of this. Hence they take
no great pains in their diplomatic notes to conceal the threat, that
in case the claims are not promptly settled, they will be compelled to
take possession of parts of Posen and Eastern Prussia, and of Alsace
and Lorraine as pledges. Both powers expressed their readiness to waive
their claims for payment, provided Germany were disposed to yield up
possession of these provinces. Is not that a piece of unparalleled
impudence?
There is no lack of well-drilled men, of muskets, powder, and shot in
Germany. The former regime took good care to provide an abundance of
these materials. But in other respects we are not so well prepared; and
it seems that in consequence of the diminution in the out-put of coal,
and of the dwindling away of the stocks, there is a scarcity of this
material which would most seriously hamper the transport of troops by
rail. Great complaints are also made by the military authorities as to
the scarcity of meat, flour, oats, and similar stores.
Meantime, France has annexed Luxemburg. At the dissolution of the
Custom’s Union, this Duchy had been, so to say, cut quite adrift. One
party in the Duchy took advantage of the ill-humour at the severance of
the old commercial relations with Germany to call in the French. The
latter lost no time in responding to the call, and they soon reached
the territory by way of Longwy. It is said that French cavalry has
already been seen on the Germano-Luxemburg frontier close to Treves.