A telegram was published on Monday from the Berlin corre-
spondent of the Times stating that " France had proposed disarmament at St. Petersburg, Vienna, Florence, Berlin, and it is supposed, London." No confirmation whatever of this news has yet reached England, but it is presumed to refer to a mission said to have been entrusted to General Fleury, now French Ambassador at the Russian Court. He was said to be instructed, if possible, to detach Russia from Berlin, and if that were not possible, to suggest once more the European Congress. It seems to be believed on the Continent that the Czar's presentation of the Grand Cross of St. George to the King of Prussia was intended to announce the failure of the French scheme. This decoration is only given to Generals who have won great battles, " and marks," said M. d'Oubril, the Russian Ambas- sador, at a great dinner given by King William to his Generals, " the ties of friendship existing between the two Sovereigns, the two annies,ithe two nations." Russian Ambassadors do not make such speeches without orders, and the incident is almost a proof that the alliance between the two powers has been re-cemented.
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