The atmosphere of Europe is a little lighter this week.
The Earl Grey on Monday brought up the affair of Langalibalele, gloom was a little increased on Saturday by a notification that and moved a resolution condemning Lind Carnarvon's conduct
the Crown Prince had abandoned his journey to Italy, which in not supporting the Natal authorities against the unlucky Zulu looked as if great events might be at hand, but the Crown Prince chief. We have commented on the debate elsewhere, but may has started, though he will not, perhaps, visit Victor Emanuel, mention here that Earl Grey's argument rested upon a recapitu- and the official organs of Germany have been instructed to-tone lation of the facts which seems to us wholly erroneous, and was down the excitement. The North-German Gazette, in particular, completely disproved by Lord Carnarvon in a most spirited says the Post has made a mistake, although France has certainly speech, and by Lord Cairns in a judicial summing-up of the pro- been arming with a rapidity which looked as if she were arming ceedings at Langalibalele's trial, and on the idea that the ad hoc,—that is, for some special project. It is added, however, Colonial Office should always support local authority. Lord that the Belgian affair, which was closed, must, in consequence Carnal-von entirely endorsed that-theory, but added to it the rider- of the language of the Belgian Press, not be allowed to which it always needs, and which both parties in-this-country are- end ; and the Belgian Government has actually reopened often so disposed to forget. "If there be any truth whatever in the inquiry into the affaire Duchesne,—that is, the story the theory and the idea of Empire, surely it is in this,—that the- that a Belgian workman had offered to assassinate Prince [home] servants of the Crown are bound to have a conscience in Bismarck for a sum of money. The French Press anxiously this matter, and bound, also, to have a voice ; and when an act assures Europe that the French Army is in no condi- of wrong or injustice has been done in any part of the Empire, it tion to undertake anything, and the Cologne Gazette, which, is their duty to notice it. If the ties of the Empire really will though sometimes inspired, is often independent, says that Eng- not bear that strain upon them, then I say the whole Imperial land has entirely refused to place any pressure upon Belgium. theory becomes an absolute fiction, and worse than fiction." The The general impression left by the whole affair is that the Ger- whole power of the Empire is not to be used, said his lordship in man Government, in revealing the despatches which had passed another passage, to conquer these tribes, and only local power to- between Brussels and Berlin, and in hinting to the people that be exerted in order to secure _them justice. If we accept the war might be at hand owing to French armaments, wished to create responsibility of prohibiting insurrection, we must accept also
morning, as Spain did, that we have succeeded in making ourselves detestable alike to natives and to settlers.
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