The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1917. A CRUMBLING ALLIANCE ?

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3068, 2 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1917. A CRUMBLING ALLIANCE ?

It would be optimistic to read in the latest reports relating to Austrian peace feelers a promise that Austria, will, presently desert her principal ally, but they point to a developing cleavage in the Teutonic alliance which is likely to count as a. very important factor in the war. Possibly, Germany has lastened such a hold on Austria as aothing but military defeat will compel her to relax. An indication to that, effect was given, as was at the time, when the Dual Monarchy, after its- ne;<v Emperor's desire for peace had -become a matter of public knowledge, followed Germany s to a to ' the" extent of breaking off relations with America. But even -<f Austria's prospects of escaping f rom the toils of an uncleieaM Germany are poor, a desire, for peace on; the part of tho filers and a great proportion of , the population of the Dual Mon[archy and developing hostility to the alliance with Germany which means continued war and suffering, are of the highest importance. An alliance in which the weaker party is hold tp , the compact by force is very much; more vulnerable than one solidly founded ,on interest and sympathy, and in all likelihood the leutonic alliance is destined to be subjected, this year to a militarv test which will .search tho very foundations of its strength. The repays which have been mentioned irrftke a suggestive addition to the .-evidence of acute internal dissension in tho enomy alliance, and there does not seem any reason to doubt that they accurately reflect the facts of the : situation. The peace feelers—embodying as their central feature tho statement that Austria docs not desire annexation —which are said by several correspondents to have- been published in Vienna, with senu-ofhcial authority are evidently with serious misgivings in Gr, rmany ■ This " . g clearly j o{ tho holmsche folhszcitung for an official o f t jj C no . annexa ti on P. 01, .0y and in the report that tho Raiser has sent a special envoy to make the same appeal to Empekok Carl.

As they stand, tho Austrian proposals can hardly be regarded as providing a .basis for peace, and indeed take little enough account of tho interests of the people now grouped under Austrian rule. They are essentially: such proposals as the Emperor and his advisers might be expected to frame with an eye chiefly to the interests of the Hapsdurg dynasty,. but, while they wear this character,, they are wholly consistent with other evidence of developing dissension between Austria and Germany, and with the widely-Held belief that the Emperor and his Foreign Minister (Count Czernin) are sincerely desirous of obtaining peace. The remarkable feature of the proposals is in their absolute renunciation of the Pan-German projects which take a dominant place in German policy, • and are supported by a section at least of tho Germans in Austria. For anything that appears to' the contrary, the reigning scion of tho Hapsbuegs clings to the hope , that ho may be enabled to continue to rule over the Poles, Czechs, and other subject races of the Dual Monarchy, with the possible exception of tho Italians of the Trentino and Trieste. But for the sake of obtaining peace he is prepared, if the reports under notice arc to be trusted, to renounce the idea of that drive to the East which was one of Germany's principal objects in plunging Europe into war. The Teutonic programme was that Austria should annex territory in tho Balkan corridor, and that Germany should in tho sequel absorb Austria. The form which the absorption should take has been a topic of discussion both in Germany and in Austria. It is therefore quite plain that if Austria renounces anncxationist designs in tho Balkans, Germany is being opposed in what she ' has considered her own house.' The proposals, as they aro reported, stop short of terms that would make, peace between Austria and her enemies possible, but they carry evidence cf such an extreme divergence in policy and aims as k> warrant a beliof that tho Teutonic alliance will hold good no longer than Germany is able to keep it intact by the force of military domination.

It is chiefly because the exact scope and force of this military domination are not known that a measuro of uncertainty exists as to tho probable further duration o£ the Austro-German Alliance. Probably tho Emperou of Austria exercises a very limited control over his own army, and the difficulty of steering a separate course is as a result very greatly increased! But when full allowance is made for this factor, the known leanings of the Austrian Emperor and the leading members of his Government, and the popular

discontent which'is rifo in the. Dual Monarchy, are- still charged with •significance as they bear upon the war outlook Lomjj before this war began the relation of Germany and Austria was one of exploiter a nd exploited, As an exjlcd citizen o f the Dual Monarchy wrote some time ago, Austria s alliance with tho Hqkenzollern, forced upon her by tancied political necessity, is not based on inner kiwship in thought and feeling, not on ancient historical tradition, nor on community of future interests. It is a hollow pretence, vife with tho seeds of future dissension. The truth' of these' observations has been painfully emphasised in a.war.which has carried the Dual Monarchy to the verge of ruin, and it remains a distinct possibility that in the increasing strain or the war Germany may find herself incapable- of forging military bonds strong enough to hold her ally in restraint.