IS IT THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 750, 24 February 1910, Page 7

IS IT THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE?

AUSTRO-ITALIAN ; RIVALRY—AND

V T . h ® outstanding qu'esHon'is understood to be/the.renwsl of tho Triple Alliance. •Plunder."that head; comes : the rivalry between two- of-tbe 'ralliee V (Austria- dud Italy) m the . Balkaus, £vi\4 ; the. const** Wjt. Kussg-Itahan - Entente. ■ A. recent' writer thus; deal# Avith' the' Aerenthal's Nerve, - ; v

: j*yCoiint Aerenthal, stands in- the'-'public eyejis/tho most not' theinteresting, 'diplomatic - figuro ?' in Europe. . Botter'notbrious-than arcued .the-.Austrian press "when-the storm of European indication broke oyer their country Count Aerenthal* has unquestionably succeeded in - concentrating ' upon himself tho:attention of the world. .The question whetherhe is/a'man' whom posterity will; 'place among-the great can-: vot jet be decide*}, A' friendly critio de- ■ soyibes.;. him - as 'having :.reoeived'.- renown m .advance for deeds-yet to be done, deeds of which the .'difficulty .increases every day. ' Hitherto, Lis, only 'deeds' have been twice to deceive Russia and to persuade the; Eipperor Francis Joseph ■to sign, without 1 warning : Europe, on-' Act of annexation which-:- violated- a European treaty.: But,: with Gorman. help, Count Aercnthal subsequently resisted the: pressure: .of tho rest of .Europe to roato him subniit the' Act of..annexation to ,a /European" conferenoe.' Herein he •showed • 'nerve.' He Obtained..European .assent .to" the- annexation, and reminded ,ttte norlfl that Austria-Hungary, still aspires :to be; regarded; as an . independent' Power;.'got; lie-also revived iiUJinones that her record; as a - lircat -Power: is' not entirely enviable, . and, besides " damaging ,her relations - with :most 1 other .European chancelleries, he has .'driven her-,rivals in th,«' Balkans,'. Rqssia-and Italy, to-join in defence of- tjieir interests against 'her.'- .- ',- ..--f-

Italy's Strong Position. ' /.'After referring to th?; question^of the reneijal of the: Triple Allianco and tho difficult task in, front of: the'new. German Imperial Chancellor, Herr von BethmannHollweg, the \vrite? : ."Though, in Italy, "internal - preoccupations are less-lively, than iii' ,countries, no Italian statesman , is prepared light-heartedly A to .contemplate - changes Italy's ' international' position. I ,'- - ; lTie ■Triple Allirmce .will Ije renewed provided AustriaTHungary : agrees 'to embody.' in ' ili adequate guarantees' that eventual changes in the Balkans .shall not, fee detrimental to Italian interests.; .If these, guarantees are not given, the'international situation may,; indeed, become gravei .'for, hitherto,' the .'main-- effect' 6f i, the alliance between AnstriarHungary ; and, Italy has been to §revent the tive alljes ,from coming' to lOTft ; Thg.' hey ,Balkan .entente'. :•• with. Russia. -places Italy, hQveyer, in a strong position, inasmuch;, qs. Aistria-Hurigary ha? ,now : to choose betyMn -; YQsuntarj? consideration of Italian mteir-.sts and exposure to combined I'talo-jßusaan pressure in•; Balkan questions. •- 1 It iis .-.true that Russia, who 6cems gradually to bo feeling her way towards.'constitutional and, parliamentary stability, needs tonquiUty at>ro.B<V jn (jrijer.to attend tqi the Work of consolidation at" home, though, as thfl : -stale olßflssiaj 'opinion 4u.riiig li\§t.' winter's' crisis.-, : 'fan: not. affo.r4 t? the cost- of sacrificing 'the > interests' of. the Balkan Slavs." :f :'v' ;