NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE foreign news of the week has not been of any very great importance. Speaking generally, we may say that EUrope is still engaged in discussing the manner in which Russia was induced to recognise the annexation of the Provinces by Austria-Hungary. Denials that Russia was coerced by the rattle of the German sabre still continue to be Widely published in the Continental Press.. If, however, they are examined in detail, it will be seen that the " corrections " whith they convey are concerned with the manner rather than with the matter of Germany's ultimatum. As we have Previously pointed out in these columns, no one doubts that the diplomatic forms were scrupulously observed through- out. Indeed, we should not be surprised to hear that Germany's message was prefaced by an expression of her uuwavering devotion to the cause of peace and to the interests Of her mighty neighbour, whose friendship Germany had always regarded as a matter of the utmost importa.nce,—and so forth. There remains, however, the fact that in some way or Other the Russian Government were made to understand that the maintenance of the policy they had adopted in the Balkans would mean conflict with Germany, and, further, that Germany was in a position to take part in such conflict at a very great advantage. Whether this is called an ultimatum or "a repro- 8entation of a most friendly and conciliatory kind conceived entirely in the interests of the Russian Government" does not appear to us to be a matter of much moment.
