Relations Of Germany And1 Italy

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 13

Relations Of Germany And 1 Italy

Sir, —Hitler’s florid pronouncement a few days ago that he would “never forget what Italy had done” and that “we are ready to show our friendship and gratitude should Italy ever be in need” reminds one that this is not the first time that Italy has been thanked by a German Chancellor for passivity in furtherance of Germany’s aggressive policy, with Austria as the victim, whenever a crisis was approaching or a coup d’etat was in the offing. The story leading up to the first thanksgiving is worth recalling. It reads more like a page of political fiction than a narrative of sober fact. It was during the regime of Bismarck. The man of “blood and iron” had no sooner assumed ministerial office than his attention was focused on Schleswig-Holstein, theu under Danish jurisdiction and bordering on Prussian territory. By skilful manoeuvring he sought and obtained the active assistance of Austria.

A joint attack was made on Denmark in December, 1863, and the two provinces annexed. At a later date Holstein, was placed under the control of Austria, while Prussia administered the affairs of Schleswig. It was just prior to the seizure of the duchies that Lord John Russell, with rare political prescience, wrote to Napoleon 111 proposing an alliance with France against Prussia’s aggressive policy in Schleswig-Holstein. The proposal was turned down, and Napoleon missed the chance of a lifetime, the grand opportunity of humiliating gruseia. Both France and England looked on (it was said that Queen Victoria favoured British intervention) while Bismarck scored the first of his three great victories. “The time was now ripe for a quarrel with Austria.” It was necessary, however, to ascertain how the French Emperor stood in the matter. Bismarck hopped off to Biarritz, where ■ Napoleon was healthseeking. There is no official record of the interview, but it is generally understood that the German Chancellor hinted vaguely at territorial concessions as the price of French neutrality. It may also be added that-Napoleon, who was always politically wrong, was inclined to the belief that in a conflict between Prussia and Austria victory would go to the latter. Au Austrian success would enable him to consolidate his position on the Rhine at the expense of Prussia. But political shrewdness was not Napoleon’s long suit. He had nothing of his famous uncle about him. Bismarck tricked, outwitted and bamboozled him ‘’in every political transaction. To make doubly sure of success the German Chancellor concluded an alliance with Victor Emmanuel, who pledged Italy to come to the armed assistance of Prussia if war broke out between that State and Austria within three months, Venice being v the bait for Italian compliance. The stage was now set for the next act in the political drama: to provoke Austria and make her the aggressor. Prussian troops were marched into Holstein, then under Austrian jurisdiction, aud, as Bismarck had planned and predicted, Austria declared war. Bismarck excelled in the art of putting the other fellow in the wrong. Hitler is not bad at that form of strategism. As soon as the result of the negotiations between Bisnxirck and Victor Emannuel became known at Vienna a big effort was made through the mediation of the French Er iperor to “buy off Italy” by the immediate cession of Venice. But Victor Emmanuel sjood solidly and honourably to his pledges and “preferred to gain by the sword what he was tempted to secure peacefully at the cost of his own good faith.” In less than a month the Austrians were overwelmingly defeated and sued for peace. Bis.marck “handsomely acknowledged the honourable conduct of Italy” in a speech in Parliament on December 20. 1866: “We had a powerful support in the unshaken fidelity of Italy ■ —fidelity which I cannot sufficiently praise, and whose value I cannot too highly appreciate. The Italian Government resisted most energetically the temptation to abandon the alliance on account of Austria’s gift.”—l am. etc.. J. A. WALSH. Pahiatua. March 24.