A French squadron has been ordered to visit Cronstadt, and
the Russian naval authorities are preparing for a grand demonstration of friendliness, if not of agreement, in foreign policy. As this could not have been arranged without the Czar's sanction, it is doubtless intended as a counter-blow to the renewal of the Triple Alliance, which is understood to have given the Russian Court much umbrage. The ceremonial of reception will doubtless be magnificent, and imprudent things will be said ; but the matter is not, after all, of serious im- portance. Every one who understands foreign affairs at all, knows that France will not attack Germany without an under- standing with Russia ; and that if she does attack her, the Russian Government, however indisposed to ally itself with a Republican State, will be forced by opinion to seize the oppor- tunity. The two States are drawn together by interest, not sentiment, and unless one of the two can be previously "squared "—that is, bought off by great concessions—the attack on Germany, whenever it is delivered, must of necessity be a joint one. There is an alliance, in fact, for certain eventualities, and no amount of talking on ships' decks will either strengthen or weaken it.
