The sensation of the week in foreign affairs has been
the telegram sent by the German Emperor to Count Goluchowski thanking Austria for her unshakable support at Algeciras, "a fine deed of a true-hearted ally." In a strain of ill-chosen metaphor he declares that Count Goluchowski has been a "brilliant second on the duelling-ground." And he promises a similar service if circumstances should make ft necessary. The telegram is undated, and may either have accompanied Count Welsersheimb's decoration and have been withheld from publication by the Austrian Government, or may hive been sent as an afterthought on the news of Austria's action with regard to the Russian loan. .In any case, owing to the illness of Prince Billow, it probably represents the Emperor's unaided efforts at telegraphic correspondence, which, as in the case of the Kruger telegram, are apt to be unhappily inspired. The obvious intention of the message is to give a lesson to the other member of the Triple Alliance. Italy may well read into the Emperor's words a promise to assist Austria in any claims she may make in tie Balkans at the expense of herself. But the telegram seems to have caused only embarrassment at Vienna. Though Austria more than once supported Germany's claims, yet she has no desire to show any hostility to France, and has always maintained that she acted independently upon the merits. . Further, it is scarcely complimentary to a great nation to thank her as if she were only a "second" prepared to follow German instructions. The strong party in the Dual Monarchy who dread and distrust German influence may well regard the Emperor's thanks as an insult to their Government.
