nne_.

ENGLAND, HOLLAND AND GERMANY.[26]

I have good reason for believing that President Krueger was kept by Dr.
Leyds under the illusion that he could count on intervention in his
favour. However, "Who should intervene?" is the question asked by M.
Tallichet in his article, _La Guerre du Transvaal et l'Europe_,
published by _La Bibliotheque Universelle de Lausanne_.

"President MacKinley, as was asked of him in a petition organised
by the Peace League? He has no such intention. Of the European
Powers, three only could have tried to do so: Russia, Germany and
France. Russia, however, who might have induced France to act with
her, will not trouble herself about it. Nicholas II., her
sovereign, has but lately taken part at the Hague in a conference
promoted by himself for the purpose of considering the means of
insuring peace. Having taken the initiative he may be believed to
have been actuated by philanthropic motives. But it also happens
that peace is, for Russia, of the greatest importance, grown, as
she is, out of all proportion, continuing to extend her tentacles
wherever there is a chance of seizing something. To this cause of
weakness must be added others: the need of money for her gigantic
enterprises; the famine, now become endemic, by which her European
provinces are ravaged, depopulated and reduced to the greatest
misery. She is profiting now by her experiences after the Crimean
War. As long as she remains inactive, the influence she exercises
on general politics by her mere extent, and the mysterious power
which seems to be the corollary of it, far exceeds her actual
strength. On her descending into the arena, however, this optical
illusion is dissipated, as was apparent in the recent Turkish War;
her prestige was lessened. No steps will therefore be taken by her
to increase England's difficulties by which she gains much without
striking a single blow.

"With regard to France, her only interest in the question is her
rivalry with England and the possibility, afforded by the latter's
difficulties, of re-opening the Egyptian Question. Public opinion
was sounded on this subject by a few newspapers, government organs
among them, but without obtaining the desired result. Although not
daring to counsel a formal alliance with Germany, they would have
liked t