THE NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4505, 13 June 1883, Page 3

THE NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

Prince Bismarck has achieved a fresh trinmph of diplomacy. Although not formally embodied in a treaty of alliance, the three States--Germany, Austria, and Italy—have entered into a defensive league to resist any attack which France may make upon* either of them. Of coarse both Italy and Austria maintain that so injury to France is intended, but the vndoubtfnl effect of the new tripartite treaty is to increase the isolation of the lies public, which now stands without an ally in Europe. The uneasiness and mortifi cation of the French are extreme. They cannot but recognise that such an agreement menaces them, and Bismarck's blunt avowal that he has no fear of France so long as she is republican, only adds fuel to their anger. They more than suspect that their North African policy may be crippled by Italian interference, as it is ■ believed to be an unwritten article of the new agreement that Italy is to be supported in her opposition to the threatened extension of French influence over Tripoli. The French have little confidence in the, stability of' their Bepublic. Every rumour disquiets them, and much alarm has been occasioned by the assertion that the leading generals of the army have arranged that the Monarchy must be restored. In view of this dread, the repeated illness of the Comte de Ghambord are serious, for M. Ferry recently jemarked that the Comte de Parisjnxmldrbe

1—"-formidable- should the white king. die. The prospects of the Orleans princes are generally bettered to have improved, and that fact ia emphasised by the Radical disposition to renew the persecution to which the princes have been subjected a few months since. To preserve a semblance of influence abroad, the French are entangling themselves in a succession of escapades in their desire to create a great colonising empire. In Tunis, West Africa, Tonquin, and Madagascar they have adventures in hand. They have recalled their Envoy at Pekin because he acknowledged Chin as the suzerain of Annum—a fact of centuries. The result is almost certain to be that the Bepublic will have to encounter the serious though lethargic opposition of China in her attempts to absorb Tonquin into Cochin j China. What that opposition means the Busians in "Kuldja know full well. As regards Madagascar, the French have not yet resorted to a boombardment of Tamatare or a blockade. The natives are, however, preparing for a desperate^ resistance, and. according to recent advices, the French, if they lard, must be prepared to encounter 20,000 armed Mala§eie. It is significant that the United tates, as well as England, has admitted the sovereignly of ihe Queen of Madagascar over the entire island.