The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05

seemed dlsinclined 10 yield this point. BE
sides, the clerical party ~ the french conr'
who, on account NJ tho Empcror's. increasing
innrmity, gained more. and more, influence over
the political affairs Of the empire. However,
Victor Emmanuel and Ncnebrca became nnal.
ly satisfied with NHpOleOn's promise that the
~ Inc no troops Sspsr w2q ~ ,S SSaTf9 1ns s sS irty as 500"
On the fourth Of July. 1859. the negotiations
elosed with the drafting Of M. alliance treaty
which rcad In substance that the three
powers bad formed u defensive alliance for
the preservation Of the peace ~ Europe, that
action should take place. and that Austria re-
served for itself the privilege Of declaring its
neutrality in case France felt compelled to
In The meantime It dawpcd on, .Napoleo1
H. and ms advisers that such an alliance had
fore. Gen. Mcnahrca informed the Emperor OF
The French that, having aSccrtained the views
OF Ms nssocintrs In the Italian Cabinet, he was
nature of tho treaty, Napolcon did not press
the matter 70 a .rttlcmcnt. In August, Me-
nahrea. nt the instivdtion OF Pcust. once more
rcopencd negotiations touching the Roman
gucry. ! ended with ,Mcnnbrea declaring
pact, hut that Italy felt it obligatory TO have
Incorporated u neutrality clause similar to
stances could Italy participate IN n war before
the evacuation ur Rome.
The European situation lad in the meanwhile
]iicimrich Won islybicii,s " aip6 icon disimciifne ID
for, earnest political action, wrote Francis Io.
SUN tilIl Nv INV liNlI'IItI 10 NlGn t't IIfUlN III
utNuitely, ,m,ut that even. 50 ln stood ready TO
end immediate aid should Austria he attacked.
lint A. tNc curr"SonGence between the three
sible to know n Sylcl's reference to what IL
contains Is conclusive. Touching the ~negotn-
tions in 1870, there are cxtaut writings Nv Vic.
tor Emmanuel and by Bcust which clearly
prove that the King of ITALY, and the Emperor
of moro than superficial value, aud that at any
rate the. negotiations were considered morally
binding hv the three rulers. irrcspcctiv" of the
tltt fnnt no frppfE NTus giyYntl Ulnrp I'm.
d"ubtcGly existed II union between the three
countries directed against Prussia.
In reality it is not difficult to discover the mo.
tive for Won Sybcls version of the negotiations
concerning, the, Napolconic triple alliance.
Wilhelm II. had refused him the Nerdun prize
because Of his .glorihcation of tho Iron Chancel.
l,rr, and, Syhcl in return is anxious to defend
bismarck against the, charge that he played at
hazard in 1870 and that he had only the short
,ightcdncss and irresolution of Hcust and Vic
TOR Emmanuel. to thank for lis. luck: Never
thrless, according tc.Sybel himself, Victor En-
manuel was, more than anxious to participate
n a war where by brilliant acnielyemlents he
But Cen. Mcnehrca was now no longer at the
head OF the Gahinrt. His successor, I.nnge.
Whilch friend of France. preferred, like Count
Bcust, to await the course of events, and the
enthusiasm OF the King met a cold reception
10y. The members. OF the cabinet.
The Napolconic Triple alliance was never for.
mnIIy CONCLUDED. but ne. impartial observer
right. to believe in A%ustria's and especially in
ltnly's assistance. Significant are the words
with which Victor Emmanuel greeted Enl-
prror Wilhelm |. at Berlin in 1873: sire" said
he, II arr bound to confess that | considered it
my duty and aNowed the desire to assist Na-
pole"n Ill. and France. md the only things
t ut prevented my doing so were my Ministers
and public opinion"
Emperor Francis Joseph had opportunity
enough for Interesting reflections concerning
triple alliances during the jubilee manuuvres.
There is both signature and seal TO his alliance,
but he has nevertheless cX experienced that Prince
Bismarck on more than one occasion had two
stlfIgs to his political bow.
All in all, an alliance, whether signed or un.
signed. remains largely a draft on the future,
II not put in effect at once. Personal interest.
courage. or CowardiCe play important parts in
The payment uf obligations that cannot he en-
forced. Emperor Francis Joseph and his all.
visers were shrewder than FmI error Napoleon
and the Due de amo That. and not the
form or construction, is AS yet the essential diff.
ference between the French Austrian Italian
triple alliance and the Dreibund OF today.