A TRIPLE ENTENTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1835, 22 August 1913, Page 7

A TRIPLE ENTENTE.

.BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND SPAIN. 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copsright ("Times"—Sydney "Suu" Special Cables.) (Roc.,. August 21, G. 35 p.m.) Paris, August 21. The Teport which-has been'circulated concerning a pending Britis'i-Fiench-Span-ish alliance is obtaining additional credence since the visit of King Alfonso to Paris. ' Since the war in the Balkans the Embassies of the various European Powers have been unusually active as regards their relations with each other. Together with tho other European Powers, Spain has been oasting about., so to speak, in search of sounder moorings. Going back to tho timo of the Spanish-American war, the newspapers in Madrid set the key for tho ujinor jiewspapers by stating' that tho struggle with tho United States hail awakened Spain from'her lethargy, and that great agricultural and manufacturing and military activities had followed. But although they attributed these helpful activities to a war, they did not advocate to try tho experiment again. Tho great question acknowledged by practically all the newspapers is: What part shall Spain take in -the event of a European war?. Competition with Franoe or Germany was seen to l>o useleM, and with tho idea of safeguarding against isolation by the Powers or against tho possibility of the Peninsula becoming onco again'the theatre of a European war, the newsSapors, headed by the "Epoca" (Madrid), eclared that Spain must look out for ti strong and reliable alliance, as a ruined spendthrift looks out for a rich wife. The "Correspondencia de E?pana" (Madrid) remarked that neither the Triple Alliance nor the Triple Entente (as they then existed) would be of any great uso to Spain as a coadjutor in time of need. A new combination must be formed '''lie majority of tho papers' "were iu with the "Correspondencia," which stated that an alliance with Germany would be fatal.. "To make Germany oui' rM t- bedomo «inbroiled with Frani'"-Mid England, would bo acting liko a mafTvlio discarded l<is sweetheart in Madrid and was making lovo to a girl in Chiur -nom he could never visit and who visit him." Austria-Hungary n"~ "tnly ivero also considered as possiblo contacting parties, but tho situation was ";?st summed np by Deputy Alvarez in a speech in the Corlis. "For my part," lie said, "I would advocate • an alliance of Spain with IVance and England. Of course it would bo far better for us if we could remain neutral, but wo have really no choice in the matter as to whether we should join or keep aloof from European politics. The belligerents might occupy the Balearic and tlifl Canary Islands, with the object of forming cuitable bases for their naval operations. Our alliance with Franco and England would also have nil indirect influence on our domestic politics. In thii connection the proposed visit of l\ing Alfonso to Paris has niucli significance in drawing closer tho ties that bind Spain and France."