The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-27
will the Three Emperors Form an
Alliance2

will the Three Emperors Form an
Alliance2
+. It is reported that the Drei Kaiser Bund.
or league OF the three Emperors, which
preceded the combination OF the central
powers, may be revived In modified form.
Commercial treaties between Russia and
Germany, and between Russia and Austria
Hungary. have been almost simultaneously
concluded. and 1t has been publicly declared
that these arrangements have been largely
prompted by political motives. We are
now told that meetings Of the three SOW
ereigns concerned will take place at no
distant day. and that Kaiser WILLIAM II.
will endeavor to bring about an understand
ing In pursuance of which the Gar will main
tain q friendly neutrality In the event OF
war between France and Germany. while he
will be left free to deal with Turkey and
the British Indian empire.
Would the Gar. by consenting to an
agreement OF this kind. be guilty OF bad
faith toward France There Is no evidence
that he has ever promised to countenance
French war OF aggression against Germany.
II any formal or informal compact between
the st. Petersburg and Paris Governments
exist. the precise terms OF 1t are unknown:
the belief prevailing In well-informed quar-
ters Is that 1t simply embodies an assurance
that France will not be left to cope. single
handed. against tho forces of the Triple
Alliance. That Is to say. ALEXANDER III.
practically takes the same stand to-day
as was taken by GoRToHAKoFP. who. 1t
will be remembered. interposed when Bis
MARcK and MoLTKE. dismayed at the rapid
recovery Of military strength by France,
planned to deliver u second and more de-
structive blow. From this attitude the Gar
would not depart. IL he made 1t tho condition
OF revived league with the German and
Austrian Emperors that the latter should
offer no provocation to the French republic.
The acceptance of such condition would
secure the maintenance Of peace through
out central and western Europe. for. unless
certain of Russian cooperation. France will
not attack her German neighbor. With the
danger Of war on the Rhine thus averted.
1t would be needless for Germany to make
any further additions to her army. and 1t
would be possible for Italy to reduce the
burden Of a military establishment which
she has proved unable to sustain. More
over. France would have some compensa-
tons for the necessity Of renouncing. for
the present. the hope Of regaining Alsace-
Lorraine. One Of the considerations which.
1t is said. would be offered to the Car for
renewing the league OF the three Emperors
would be tho sacrifice Of England. and this
would mean the concentration OF all the
British military resources In the Punjab. to
resist Russian advance. Then France
would have an opportunity OF occupying
Egypt. and Of signally extending her con-
quests in Farther India.
There Is but little doubt that, for the sake
OF assuring the tranquility OF central aud
western Europe. the Berlin and Vienna Gov
ernments would cheerfully agree to leave
England's interests in India at the mercy
of the Car. Whether they would also con-
sent to give him free hand south Of the
Danube is much more questionable. Kaiser
WILLIAM III. may concur with BISMARCK in
thinking Bulgaria not worth the bones OF
one Pomeranian grenadier. but FRANCIS
JOSEPH. as King OF Hungary. cannot pro-
fess like Indifference. The Magyars have
already trouble enough TO control the Slavic
constituents OF the trans-leithan kingdom.
and they deem 1t matter of vital import
to shut the great Slavic empire out OF the
Balkan peninsula. Their national policy,
personitied in Count KALNoKY. the imperial
Minister for Foreign Affairs. has hitherto
dictated the HAPsBURG programme. This
seems irreconcilable with Russia's designs
upon Constantinople. The absorption of
Bulgaria would be the first and indispensa-
BILE step toward the Cars requirement of
the territory still held by tho Turks In
Europe; but. far from viewing with APP
proval such q step. the Magyars. speaking
through Count KALSOKY. are likely to urge
on Russia formal recognition of Prince
FERDINAND as an independent ruler.
So long as Hungarian influence is domi-
nant at Vienna. the HAPsBURG Emperor
cannot be expected to scquiesce in the ag-
grandizement OF Russia in southeastern
Europe. II, then. the league of the three
Emperors is revived. 1t will probably be at
the expense Of England.