THE DUAL ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 5

THE DUAL ALLIANCE

HUNGARIAN STATESMAN'S ' ASSURANCE

DEFENCE, NOT OFFENCE

Recent cablegrams—one appeal's to-day —on the Austro-Germau Alliance, give point to tho following contribution by Count Julius Andrassy to _ the "Neuo Freie Presse" on tho new alliance, which tho Vienna newspaper published as a loading article. The Count observes that when Bismarck and Andrassy vere negotiating the Treaty of Alliance in 1879 .Hie /Iron Chancellor expressed a wish that the two great Powers should conclude a defensive and offensive .allianco against every eventuality. Andras- - ,y, however, was absolutely opposed to this, riid, being convinced that the German statesman would give way, was determined to break off tho negotiations altogether rather than concludo an allianco of such ft general character. His view prevailed, Count Julius adds, and tho treaty was directed exclusively against Russia.

Tho treaty, which was discussed by the twos leading statesmen at Gestein nearly forty years ago. and which lias since then directed the events of Hie iivorkl, has served its purpose so well, the Count continues, that it has become superfluous in its old form. "It has smashed the adversary, against whom it provided protection." ■ The treaty in Us new form, ho asserts, is merely an adaptation of the original one to altered conditions. In 1879, ho states, Russian Imperialism was tho only common danger for Aus-tria-Hungary and Germany, and it was appropriate therefore that tho allianco should bo directed against Russia. Now, however, tho situation is completely changed, and "tho danger against which we must protect ourselves is no longer Russian. Imperialism, but tho permanent animosity of, and possible new attacks 'by, those countries which nave endeavoured during tho past four yeafs, while straining all their forces to the utmost capacity, to annihilato the Central Powers and split them up into their component parts." i Partition of Austria. Tho chief aim" of those Powers, according to Andrassy, is tho partition of Austria-Hungary on the ground that a lasting peace can be assured only by giving autonomy on a democratic basis to the various nationalities composing the Jhial Monarchy. "Our present need is thus," he adds, "on allianco that will protect us against these dangers of tho future as it has protected us in tho past." Tho v Hungarian statesman considers it possiblo also that in course of time tho old danger may ievive in a new form, for the idea of a union of all Slavs in a Socialist Republican. Confederation is the old programmo of most Russian revolutionaries and agitators. For this (reason, too, ho contonds, the alliance in its new form 'is imperatively necessary, though the immediate danger has to be met first.

"It is only by holding together (hose forces which havo saved our two Empires now," he asserts, "that we can protect ourselves against the future danger that menaces us in the form of a fresh attempt on the part of our adversaries to attain what they 'are this time unable lo attain.*-' The world is to-day divided into two parts, Count Julius observes, and he declares- that it would be illusion and fanaticism to believe that things will bo otherwise in the near future. He wishes to make it clear that the Central Powers are 'not responsible for this, and maintains chat tho new Dual Alliance is formed to ensure that another already existing allianco shall not imperil "our existence and ou,t future." He wishes also to point out most emphatically that tho new Dual Allianco, like the old ,one, is purely defensive. Peaceful Intentions. He imagines that when this war is over no nation will be inclined to pursuo an aggressive foreign policy, but he nevertheless maintains that guarantees.must be given that neither of the contracting parties shall be involved in any plans of conquest and hegemony cherished by the .other. Ho insists, furthermore, that the peace concluded with their defeated enemies by tho victorious Allied Central Powers must manifest cbarly that it is no obstacle to the development of an international law which would prevent the waging of war as much as possible,"and would settle the armament question on an international basis, and also that this Alliance does not wish to continue tho 1 fight after peace has been concluded, but will pursue a peaceable policy in every respect; that it does not wish to be exclusive, but is desirous of effecting a friendly- rapprochement with the countries to-day opposed, to it. I

Finally, Count Julius is of opinion that tho interest of the Dual Alliance requires that "our relationship also with Bulgaria and with Turkey shall be made stable and shall be strcnglhenel"