The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1915. PRINCE BULOW'S MISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 5 January 1915, Page 3

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1915. PRINCE BULOW'S MISSION.

The announcement made by the Parisian newspaper Le Temps that Prince Bulow's mission to Italy had utterly failed will not come as a surprise to those who follow the tortuous current of international affairs. When King Victor Emmanuel, with his Foreign Secretary, visited Kiel in July, 1913, on his way to Sweden, he spent several days with tlie Kaiser. In view of the renewal of the Triple Alliance for a further period, which took place in the previous month of December, it was recognised that the meeting between the two Sovereigns and their Foreign Secretaries had for its object the discussion of important diplomatic problems, but It is generally accepted that the one great problem under consideration was whether Italy would find in the Triplice a base for her Asiatic policy, or must she look elsewhere. It is necessary to understand Italy's attitude on that occasion in order to comprehend her position to-day, for it is the solution of that same problem that is occupying her attention at the present juncture. That Italy's adherence to the Triplice was of a slender character is well known, especially to Germany. Evidence of this is to be found in a communication by the Berlin correspondent of the London Daily Mail, who, writing in 1913, said: "Germans are constitutionally unable to view Italy's adherence to the Triple Alliance with enthusiasm or confidence. In the dread day of Armageddon, they are persuaded Germany and Austria will find themselves compelled to face Europe alone." That day has arrived, and proved the accuracy of the forecast. Italy wisely decided to hold aloof from the war forced on Europe by the Kaiser. She doubtetf that any result from adhering to her allies, and feared that, instead of regaining her lost Adriatic provinces, she would only commit suicide by going (o war against her best friends. Germany, however, did nofdespair of dragging her erstwhile ally into the toils of war, and with a cunning worthy of the barbaric tribe from which the country sprang sent the one diplomatist who had a hope of success to smooth over the difficulties, and open up a vision of future greatness and glory to the kingdom of Italy. This is verified by th e cable message containing Lo Temps' comments on the failure of Prince Bulow's mission, wherein it is stated that the Kaiser was well aware that his only hope of success was Prince "Eulow's popularity. Italy was susceptible neither to the glamour of tlio brilliant future as conjured up by German artifice, nor to the wiles of the "popular" Prince Bulow. With commendablo prudence she preferred a safer and less ambitious course. Italian statesmen are quite as capable of drawing reliable conclusions from current events as any of their fellows in other countries, and there appears to be no lack of signs i-liat Italy is quite capable of playing her own hand with confidence of success. A% all events, she is setting her forces in order so as to be prepared for action when the time is ripe. Undoubtedly, as matters are at present, she is wise to play a waiting game, and to avoid falling into the trap into which Turkey was so easily precipitated. Once more Prince Bulow has fallen a victim to his Imperial master's schemes, and will ha/o to bear the blame of failure, which will react on his party, who have the misfortune to Tie antagonistic to the great War Lord. If the Kaiser had purposely set to work to bring about the downfall of Prince Bulow, who is already under the ban, he could not have adopted a surer means for accomplishing that end than to send the. Prince on such a hopeless mission. It was, however, quite in accord with the fiendish tactics adopted by his officers in placing unarmed captives in front of their troops. To the world at large it must be difficult to realise that the ruler who can adopt and sillier such base means is the same German Emperor who, two years ago, issued a rescript, in which he said: "I thank God that I can look back with satisfaction on the past twenty-five years of serious work, and on the great acquisitions they have brought to the Fatherland. That this lias happened under the fertilising rays of the. sun of peace, the strength of which has victoriously dispelled every cloud appearing on the horizon, makes me. particularly happy. My heart's desire has thereby been fulfilled." One is moved to wonder what the Kaiser's idea of happiness is, and were it not for the revelations of his duplicity and arrogant assumption of the role of the ruler if the universe, the answer to the query would be extremely difficult to find. As it is, we lyiow the desire on which he has set his heart, and it is to prevent its fruition that th? Kf.. blood of the Allies is now heir-, outpoured.