Eastbourne, 14 August 1886 
4 Cavendish Place 

Dear Ede, 

A fortnight ago I sent you a Standard containing a Bulgarian report 
on Russian intrigues in the Balkans which was very important.* 

* ‘Russia and Bulgaria’, The Standard, No. 19359, 30 July 1886. 

Meanwhile the situation has been getting more and more critical, for 
Alexander ITI is in need of a success after his many setbacks and, in 
view of the multifarious intrigues, it might well happen that matters 
get beyond thé gentlemen’s control and war breaks out. In this con- 
nection I wanted to pass on to you the story sent in by the Daily 
News correspondent in St Petersburg, which he insists is true despite 
all disclaimers, that between the 18th and the end of this month six 
Russian army corps, opposed by six ditto, will be engaged on ma- 
noeuvres in the neighbourhood of Vilna, i.e. close to the Prussian 
border; an assemblage, that is, of 12 army corps (the whole German 
army has only 18 of them) or, at a very modest estimate, 240,000 
men. We may be sure that the vast sum of money involved isn’t being 
chucked down the drain out of sheer bravado. Moreover Alexander HI 
has forbidden ail foreign officers to attend, even Werder, the Prussian. 
While these 240,000 men are concentrated on the border, Mr Giers 
will arrive in Germany to negotiate with Bismarck. It is a very bold 
stratagem, especially having regard to old William,* for he is being 
tackled precisely on this, his most sensitive flank. So things may go 
wrong and war break out. It may equally well be settled on the quiet, 
for we may be sure that Giers will not willingly be a party to such out- 
rageous pranks. However I thought it as well to draw your attention 
to this curious business. 

Tell Schliiter that I shall attend to his piece °°’ as soon as I get 
back to London. I may possibly see old Harney before that, in which 
case I shall be able to glean a good deal of information that will be of 

interest to him. 
Kindest regards. Back in London on the 28th of this month. °°° 

Your 

F.E.