New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04
TREATIES LIGHTLY BROKEN
.r.rrsurN DISREGARD THE PLlGHrhD
FAITH OF NATIONS


s ,,a discussion which is IN pioe'.ss
~ In view Oh u,e ,oor,,s Of the projected treaty
eoncer''ii.s 'I - coates and Great Britain IL
between '.. 80. =, cast a passing glance al
mo- -, ,r,ernatIonal agree'"e"'s " ~
'ne '0'. $50 n,aved in the past "''"oo. III
ch@r"''e' - % depreciate the motives 'ha'
any way "'s VS.. 'noeotiations OF the convention
nave pIoi'p,e ,-n,,ed states Senate. 1T may be
,o,,,.d oft that experience ,..'..'., |
PV"'N III, N be broken. ana tha'' ihas'nuch
..,-e frequently is accep'eu as c"sus
az, ,ha,, NAV be considered on the whoie' as
oeii' 'ney ne s.r 10 war than 10 peace. True,
.hora are some OF the sinae' ~ P
'he.e a. >sr instance. Switzerland and Belgium.
sue" as' ,,xemburg which are said TO owe
as WEI" and their safety from invasion TO
''e ,.rratIonal treaties guaranteeing their
,,,r But Il may be questioned whether
80. r..nect OF the latter is due so much to the
....,ss as II Is TO the assurance entertained by
-. Great Powers that r any one OF their number
,.arnts 10 infringe that neutrality II will have
49, as,snd by force OF arms am advantages tina
4, NAV have attained thereby. certain OF not
,.,rr permitted to remain In undsputed pos
.sss,on. Treaties adhered to only so long as
., &c n the interest Of the nations who parties
the agreement to do so. and the only exception
"a the rule is that of Italy. which has involved
20 the terms and stpula,ions OF its alliance with
Germany.
CONTRACTS OF SHORT DURATION.
Thus the so-called Treaty Of Paris. which
marked the close of the Crmean War and which
was imposed upon Russia by the victors, was
observed only so long 1t suited the conven-
ience Of the Muscovite Government, and was
denounced by the Cars Chancellor. Prince
corichakoff in 1871 soon as ever the defeat OF
France by Germany had deprived the former
power of the possibility of resenting the breaking
of the agreement Scarcely one of the stpula-
lions Of the international treaty which called
into existence the Congo Free States has been
observed by the sovereign, King Leopold OF the
gegians while the celebrated treaty at Berlin
Of 1878 is In every sense OF the word dead
letter hardly any OF the signatory Powers
having adhered TO the solemn promises and
undertakings to which they subscribed Last
wear the indiscretiOns OF Prince Bismarck
showed how little reliance could be placed upon
the much Wanted Triple Alliance. since Ger
many at the time when II was bound by the
most sacred ties to defensive and offensive
union with Austria and Italy against Russia and
France had actually made a secret agreement
with the Car behind the backs Of her allies; while
the recent difficulties in connection with Crete
are serving TO call the attention of the world TO
The faacy or placing any uepeHuenCc upOH tHS
continuance of the treaty of alliance between
Russia and France. In 1878 England made
treaty with Turkey. by which. in return for the
cession Of the Island OF Cyprus, she guaranteed
the integrity Of the Ottoman Empire, an under
taking which it is neither polite nor possible for
her 10 fulfill Russia bound herself by treaty in
the most solemn manner not to restore the forth
fcaons of the Black Sea port Of Batoum or 10
convert il into naval stronghold. in spite OF
which its defences to-day rival those of Ports
mouth France engaged herself not to take pos
session of Tunis, which, nevertheless, has be-
come one of her colonial dependencies Ac-
cordng to recent official reports published IN
london, there is no doubt that Germany has
violated all the promises which she made By
treaty not to sell either spirits or arms to the
natives Of Africa. especially those engaged In
Lave-tradng pursuits.
ITALY's UNCOMMON HONESTY.
This list could be extended indefinitely There
knot single nation that has not TO its credit
large number Of treaties which It has failed to
observe and OF broken promises. If Italy. as
above mentioned has achieved for herself a
reputation for rare honesty in having observed
her obligations in connection with the Triple
Alliance at the expense Of her political and
economic welfare, it is not from any question OF
principle but solely because King Humbert and
his family are alarmed by the rapid growth
Of republicansm in his dominions that they
look more TO foreign alliances for the mainten-
ance o. his tottering throne than TO the loyalty
Of his subjects Save for this the Triple Alliance
IS in The estimation of foreign statesmen. not
worth the paper on which its agreement Is
written Austria is we'll known to have been
seeking at ST. Petersburg. at Bucharest
and at Belgrade alliances in which Germany
has no part while the feeling between Austria
and Italy is so bitter that 1t is ridiculous TO
imagine for one instant that the one would ever
come 10 the rescue OF the other, treaty or no
treaty Indeed. the dream of every patriotic
Italian Is TO wrest from Austria those or her
Provinces that are populated by 1talian-speaK-
ing races which are known throughout the
Eumberts Kingdom by the name Of Italia
Irredenta" while in the same way Austrians are
equally bent on recovering the city OF Venice
which they look upon one OF the lost and ye'
brightest Jewels of their Emperor's crown. In
fact the two nations have not one interest In
common political. historical or economical. On
the contrary in each Of these particulars they
are Numerically opposed to each other so II
is Idle TO believe for one moment that they can
ever be relied upon to live up TO the terms or
the alliance by which they are supposed TO be
bound
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
But the most striking illustration OF the worth
lessness OF alliances far as the permanent
binding together Of nations is concerned Is al
forded by the case OF France and Russia Sell
CON has great nation gone to such ieneths
or paid SO heavily TO secure an alliance Win d
foreign power as has France In thu case OF
Russia. With the memories OF the extraVa-
gantly enthusiastic welcome accorded 10 the
Car and Czarina on the occasion OF their stay
The ha,a Gain Gt
the Professions OF brotherhood In peace ana IN
war that were uttered By both President Faure