THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2248, 7 September 1914, Page 8

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE

ITALY'S OBLIGATIONS.

In view of the suggestions that Italy may yet find it to her advantage to enter the lists against "the other two mombers of the Triple Alliances-Aus-tria, and Germany—it is interesting to jTeyiow the history of'this 'alliance. Its actual terms have '.never been made known, but from what is known it is apparent that Italy's neutrality up to this.stage of the war is an' absolutely sound attitude. The original Triple ■Alliance arose out of. tho treaty effected by Bismarck between Austria and Germany in-1879. This was an absolute alliance, both offensive and defensive, between those two countries, and directled solely against Russia. The '79 treaty followed hard upon the "Treaty of Berlin" of 1878, when Germany was ■ the- main cause of the tearing up of . the' Treaty of • San Stefano, on which the territory wrested from the Turks by Russia, Rumania, and Bulgaria was ■handed back"-.to'.'.'the Porte. For four years this Austro-Gernian alliance held good, until Italy quarrelled with France over tho annexation of Tunis by France. It. was this act by Prance which drove Italy to ally herself with her old enemy, Austria, with the result that the Triple Alliance was signed in 1882. From the very first, however, it has never been an absolute alliance. That of '79 between Austria' and Germany,, is embodied in; the. Triple Alliance, and still "held'good,- as between those two coun- • tries and against! Russia, but Italy's obligations,':. ovon" under tho original Triple Alliance-0f;,'82, did not involve her in actual war.'unless Austria and Germany were attacked by both France and Russia. Italy has never had any obligations at all under tho Triple'AUi--arico-in.-the caso-.of either .Austria or !Germany bocomirlg the aggressor. Tho alliaticp.of '82 was made for five years, and in 1887 was nearly allowed to lapse.. Italian-French relations had been grow'ing more, cordial .each year. The revivstl,' however, was effected: but on terms which-have been described as even more favourable to Italy, who, in tho.'meantime, had- also, fostered the v most friendly.relationqliips with Britain. In 1891 tho 'Triple' Alliance ' was renewed for twelve years, and again for the.same period in'l9o2. In 1918, the Triple Alliance, was again renewed, and the stirring developments since then appear to indicate that Italy's original terms of entrance into it Mad become clouded over in the minds at least of Germany and Austria.