On the other hand, the Secret Treaty with Austria of
1879 was avowedly directed against Russia, and binds Germany to defend Austria if attacked ; while it is understood that the supplementary treaty with Italy accentuates all the precautions arranged for in the first. There is, moreover, in spite of all its friendliness, an undertone of menace in the Chancellor's speech. He says openly that he found Russia just before 1879 threatening war; that her attitude is now "growingly bellicose;" that Russia is "a pike in the carp-pond ;" that if Russia attacked, the French people would follow suit, whether their Government liked it or not ; and that Germany must be ready to "send a million of men to either frontier." He refused to court Russia or "run after Russia" any more, and ended his speech with a peroration declaring that Germany feared nothing but God, couched in the style which usually precedes hostilities. The speech, in fact, while repudiating war, expresses perfect readiness for it, a tone imitated on Wednesday by Prince William, now so near the throne. In a speech at a dinner to the Diet of Brandenburg, he declared that it was unjust to accuse him of desiring war for the sake of glory. "God keep him from such criminal levity ;" but he was a soldier, and no Brandenburger feared aught but God. The general impression made in Europe by Prince Bismarck has been tranquillising ; but, nevertheless, the preparations both in Russia and Austria continue. The Russian Government, in particular, has just organised a "mobilisation staff."
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