The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
Italy's Disaster Half Forgotten
and Fresh Surprises Are
in Store.
INTRIeUEs OF THE NATIONS
Wrenched by Recent Shocks the
Triple Alliance Is Too Badly
Hurt to Survive.
IcOpyright. 1896 by the New York Times.l

Icopyright, 1896, by the New York Times.l
LONDON, Enc, March l4.-Y esterday's
meeting between the Queen of England,
who has been for tifty-nine years on her
throne, and the Emperor of Austria, who
has been for torty-eight years on his, is
said to have been their first. 1t sounds
strange enough that the two venerable
monarchs, whose capitals are only a few
hundred miles apart, and whose countries
Tor more than generation have been on
peculiarly friendly terms, should never
have laid eyes on each other until now.
Ordinarily such curious fact, if it be
fact, would have appealed to journalistic
imaginatlons all over Europe, but it
receives only the barest incidental mention,
for the reason that it is thousand times
more important to wonder what they said
when finally they did find themselves face
to face. There is undoubtedly much that
is impressive in the spectacle of these two
saddened old soyereigns at last coming
together and looking out, side by side,
upon the wild skies which overhang
Christendom, vivid with angry portents of
storm; but, for once, people are too busy
thinking about the storm itself to dwell
much on its picturesque personal incidents,
however suggestive. Where will this storm
break, and who will be struck first, are
questions which lie at the back of every
mind. From its turbulent birthday, this
year of 1886 has worn sinister aspect in
mems thoughts, until now faith in its evil
character has become almost a general
supd}titlon.
r. -a1peyncsmept that England is to
-4sni5sfk upon an adventure which will
pracC1caIIy amUuur TO auuuuer Souc an
campaign is this weeks quota to the
crowded sensations of the season. Already
Italy's disaster is half forgotten and next
week who knows what fresh surprise is in
store for the world? 1t is as if events had
wrested themselves free from human con-
troll and were hurting forward as caprice
dictated, shaking kingdoms as they come.
Just little more clearly than before it
can be seen that the Triple Alliance has
been badly wrenched by the recent shocks,
and is perhaps too much hurt to survive.
There are rumors to-day that William,
Francis Joseph and Humbert are to have
a hurried personal conference next week
somewhere IN Northern Italy, but the
value of the story it is not possible to
guess. 1t is permissible to imagine, how
ever, that William is frightened at the rev.
citation of the results of his past years
craftsmanship, adopting in an evil moment
that vicious Bismarckian policy which in
his saner years he had discarded The
German Emperor has been openly chasing
the will-o'- -the-wisp of Russian friendship
and lending himself complaisantly to one
Muscovite plan after another till now, on
the very brink of the gulf, he seems to halt
and recognize where he is. His two part
ners in the Triple Alliance are visibly dis
cussing the possibility of leaving him in
the lurch altogether. England has been
violently alienated from him and his peo-
pie, and now it is borne in upon him tn at
Russia and France have been merely play
ing with him, pocketing his gifts and ac-
cepting his services, but holding them
selves ready, all the same, to fall upon and
rend him the moment his foot slipped on
his treacherous path. believe this is
something like the situation as he sees it
to-day.
1t is plain that the Austrian Premier, in
his visit to Berlin, has been laying great
stress on the necessity of Germany getting
back the English friendship. All the of
fetal press of Vienna and Buda-Pesth
teens with this advice, and through it one
continually catches the suggestion that if
Germany can't do this then the Triple AL
lance is in bad way indeed. Austria in
this matter speaks as well for Roumana,
which finds itself suddenly alone among
the Balkan States in attitude of defiance
to Russia, and is terrified at its isolation.
Italy seems to have accepted and digested
IT'S lesson. Rudini will patch up a com
promise with Menelik, saving as much of
King Humbert's dignity as possible; will
release most of Crispi's political prisoners,
and will make overtures to France for
more amicable trade and political rela-
tions. At Rome not less than at Vienna
and Bucharest almost everything depends
on what England may resolve to do.
But who can tell what England Will do?
Ttis sudden development OF an aggres-
sive Soudan policy confuses and disturbs
public opinion here 1t is apparent that
France will be furious about IL, and yet
until now every one had believed that
Lord Salisbury was sincere in trying TO
establish a permanent close understand
ing with France. No possible triumph
over Deryishes or consequent lndirect as
sistance to the Italians in Africa would
weigh for a moment against the disaster OF
provoking a fresh Anglo-French quarrel.
Yet this is apparently what is being done,
and the English people do not like 1t at
all. Unless Curzon's speech next Mohday
puts a better face on the thing than III
wears now, there will begin TO be the
general outcry against Lord Salisbury
conduct of the foreign affairs. He has al
ready scored more diplomatic failures and
got into more diplomatic hot water than
any Englishman likes TO think about. 1t
will take very little more to impel the