GERMANY AND ITALY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2236, 24 August 1914, Page 7

GERMANY AND ITALY

TRIPLE ALLIANCE FIASCO

A SANGUINE DIPLOMATIST

PRINCE VON BULOW'S HOPES

Italy's attitude towards the other contracting parties to the- Triple Allianco lends special interest to . some passages which are to bo found in the book. "Imperial Germany," recently published by Prince Bernhard von Bui low,, a former German Chancellor. It is very evident tlvit Prince ,yon Bulow placed much more reliance 'upon tho binding force of the Alliance, where Italy Is concerned, than late events Ilavo warranted. ."''.■

"Thore. are- politicians," Prince, von Bulow remarks, "who refuse to esti.mate at its ,'true value Italy's participation in the Triple Alliance. Their hesitation arises from . d doubt as to whether Italy would be able and willing to go hand-in hand with Austria and : us in every possible complication of international politics. Even if thoso fears Were justified, which is clearly not the case, in vie'w of the loyalty/of the authorities in Italy, and of the political wisdom of the Italian nation, this would not.be an argiunent against tho valuo of Italy's • participation in tho Triple Allianco.' Supposing Italy woro not able in every conceivable circumstance to go to all ( lengths with Atisr trja arid us, and if we qnd Austria likewise-wero not able to support Italy in all r! conip'lic f itions ,v politics,' even then each one of tho three' Powers would, by virtue of the existing alliance, be prevented from assisting" tile enemy. That is'what Prince Bismarck meant when he; once remarked .that it was sufficient'for him that an Italian corporal with the Italian flag; and a drummer beside him, should 'array s'tliomselves against tho West, i.e., I 7 ranee, and not against the East, i.e., Austria' In the everit of a dispute iii Europe, everything else depends on how tno question is put, with what military force we are.prepared to 4efond our view, and with what success our military and diplomatic efforts are crowned. The full and true value of an alliance can only bo tested in a gravo crisis. In times :of peace the Triple Alliance is held together by such solid, almost indestructible, interests in the sphero of Continental politic*. tLat momentary- and transitory disturbances in international matters cannot injure it seriously.' .Tho Triple Alliance, as a guarantee of peace has proved its worth for 30 jears,- and this ■ justifies oui hopes." .■'../

"Like a Mighty Fortification." r Prince von Bulow is an ardent'supr porter of the Alliance, which was concluded in 1879 by Bismarck with Aus-tria-Hungary, and joined by Italy in ISS3. fie statos that European history has seldom if ever seen an alliance, of such strength and durability as . tho Triple Alliance, largely duo to its, conservative tendencies. "It was," , he cays, "neither a desire of conquest nor unsatisfied ambition that' brought the States of tho Triple Allianco together, and keeps them united. Tho three mid-European States are bound to each other by the firm , reeolve to maintain the existing balance of power in Europe, The alliance is like a mighty fortification to prevent it, if need bo, by forcu. . . The alliance is likoamigbty fortification dividing the Continent into two. ' Tho founders of the Triple Alliance intentionally created a guarantee of peace. They have not been disappointed in their hopes, for the steadfastness of the Triple Allianco lias more than ouce in the, last thirty years warded oft the rising danger of war." Ho points outthat there have been many changes in Italy's attitude towards the Alliance, due mostly to internal politics, but their opponents had'never succeeded in gaiiiing Italy's severance from the Alliance.

Italy and Austria. , . The undercurrent of antagonisnv prevailing between Austria and Italy, , .two of the parties in tbo Triple Alliance, in well known, and Prince von Billow's comments on th«ir relationship are instructive. Ho says: "The memory of tho passionate struggle lasting for half a century which tho Italian people carried on against the Austrian dominion in Italy has not yet faded. Suclrrecol-' lections are kept fresh in the national mind by monuments, inscriptions, a vo luminous litoraturt>, and the fip'\v patriotism of the Italians. Moreoyci, tho fact that nearly a million Italians belong to the ■Monarchy of th_e Hapsburgs has repeatedly, and at tinies injuriously, influenced Austro-Italian relftlions. Italians and Austrians. should both remember the truth of the stntornent which a distinguiiilied Italian I statesman once expressed to me in the jfollowing words: 'Austria and Italy c.-U! only be either allies or enemies.' Italy and Germany, are so obviously interdependent that they are always bound to unite."

Italy's Sincerity. Vrinco von Bnlow's remarks on Italy's relations with Germany, flealintr a,"s thev do, With several "incidents." wliidi "ntised frictilon, or some measure of distrust of Itay, amongst certain sections in Germany are especially interesting. After pointing out that Germany's relations with Italy are regarded from the scritiinental, and by Italy from the com-, mon-senso point of view, ho takes a firm stand on the ground of Italy's sincerity 'iind common cause with Goriwuiy in situations whore the Triple Alliance may bo considered binding. He writes: "It has boon asserted that .it the Conference of Algociras' Italy left n* in the lurch, or even that she played a double game with us, and this, idea gave rise amongst us for n time "to a totally 'unfounded mist-rust of 'Italy's loyalty to the Alliance. ; The fact is :

that on a few minor questions Italy roted with tlio Western Towers, ami against us., Thcso votes wero cleverly taken up by tho French Press, and wero presented to tho world as an indication, that Italy would renounce tlio Triple Alliance, and enter into friendly relations with France. . . . Tho Tripoli expedition gave the Italian nation opportunity for showing in a brilliant manner their patriotic solidarity and moral unity. Italy most certainly has interests that lio outside tho scope of the Triplo Alliance policy, and Austria does not lack them oithor. Prince- Bismarck sharply emphasised this fact at times. The Triplo Alliance, would not havo remained intact so long if it had demanded from tho allied Powers absolute community in all their enterprises, and in all tho courses of then; policy. Just as tho German Empire gains in security and stability because its constitution, while requiring absolute obedience in all great national and' political questions, leavos the single states frco to deal with their own narrower problems, so the Triplo Alliance unites tho three great Powers of Middle Europe on the great aim of Continental politics, for which the Alliance was founded, but leaves them absolute freedom in tho pursuit of their particular national interests. Tho existence of Italy, Austria, and Germany is rooted in European politics, and their roots are many and firmly intertwined. Hut the branchn3 of tho trees must he able to spread freely in every direction. The Triplo Alliance must not and cannot act as the shears which check free growth without cogent reason."

Germany and Russia. After dealing witii Germany's relations with Turkey, he.traces the friendship of Germany with JLtu&eia, which, owiuj? to the Dual Alliance which binds I , rauce and itussia together, makes it impossible to consolidate their interests by a treaty. "But Germany," he writes, "can blunt the keen edge of the. Dual Alliauco by putting her relations with Itussia on a sound basis. It was possible to accomplish this task, and it has been done. The hopes built up by the i<'rench Chauvinists on the Russian Alliance have not been fulfilled. At'times Russian statesmen have even Riven France to understand that Russia "vas not willing to serve the French policy of revenge. The French an. thorities were forced to seek some compensation for their disappointed hopes for the sake of the sentiments and aspirations which ultimately control pub-; lio feeling in France. They found this compensation in the Anglo-French Entente, which at times seemed a greater menace to. us than tho Dual Alliance. The resontmeiit of tho French' against •the rulers of Alsace-Lorraine sought and 'found an ally in the widespread disquietude and jealousy of the English, vhich increased in propoition as our navy grew and our oversea interests developed."