The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-14
EUROPEAN ALLIANCES.
They Are Many and Ramify in All
DirPptiouS


alliance between Great Britain and the
United States as far as this county is
concerned:
with the exception OF a very few dis
patches from Europe there has been
very little in the cable news that has
found credence among the least informed
of the diplomatic corps. Papers have
purported to give polls OF the nations,
which were ridiculously wrong and could
find credence only among the most iguo-
rant. To understand any expression COM
ing from a European court, it is always
necessary to have before the mind as
upon the map-the alliance relations OF
the individual and of all the other ma
tons
at is curious to notice how vastly these
relations have changed in a very short
time. The treaty mutations that have
occurred or have been discovered since
the recent Greek war would change the
treaty map Of Europe greatly.
Prior to that unfortunate struggle the
alliance between Germany, Austria and
Italy and the dual alliance between Rus
STA and France were the cogent forces.
las wheels within these were an alli-
ance between Russia and Italy by which
the latter agreed to confine herself %
strictly defensive warfare in case she be-
came involved in a conflict by reason of
the Triple Alliance. This treaty was con-
cIuded by NJ. de Giers at Monza
Then there was the famous secret
treaty between Russia and Germany.
which Bismarck exposed in order to force
Russia to break with France
England held an alliance with Austria
and Italy regarding operations in the OF
toman empire. This was because Eng
land was compelled. so long as she held
Cyprus, TO defend the integrity of the
Ottoman empire
Such was the condition which the
Greek war disturbed. 1t will be interest
ing to note in the above connection that
Russia also had a secret treaty with Den
mark to work for the restoration of
Schleswig-H olstein to that kingdom and
to protect Denmark against further ag-
gressions of the Germans
The Greek war was deliberately To-
mented to involve Europe in war There
were moments prior to and during that
struggle when the peace of Europe trem-
bled. The craftsmanship that ayerted
tremendous struggle evolved new alIi-
ances.
Russia. France and Germany were the
nations with most concern for the peace
of Europe. Russia is engaged in devel-
opIng her resources and CiViIizing myriads
of semi-barbarians. War could hardly be
disastrous to her through defeat but ii
could be through loss to her plans
France desires peace beyond all things.
War you'd destroy her new and rich
colonial empire or at least seriously Grip
he Ma tee ,T,-yt
many is in much the same condition
Therefore these powers determined
that there should be peace, and have
formed an alliance which is sufficiently
powerful to command it against any dis
turber.
I'm order to make this condition more
secure a military convention was con
Guided with Turkey, which by guaran-
teeing TO the Sultan absolute safety has
rendered useless and nugatory the obi
cations of Great Britain under the treaty
of Berlin. to defend the sublime rsDrte
against invasion.
1T will be noted that when the war
clouds lowered recently in the East. the
sultan promptly allowed the car to send
a portion of his Black Sea fleet through
the Dardanelles with re-enforcements for
Port Arthur. Great Britain did not con-
slider it eXDedient to close the Suaz
against him, and, therefore, the car has
now shorter route TO the Orient from
a sufficient base of supplies than has
Great Britain
With these alliances the United States
has little concern, because they are for a
purpose. explained later that does not
affec. her interests. There is. however
European subsidiary alliance in which
Americans might properly be interested.
Russia has an understanding with
Spain that, should Japan threaten the
Philippines. the car will interfere ac-
lively. This entente, not being generally
known, caused the expression of the i'm
perial purpose of Russia in the Vide
mosti. on November 70. TO be much mis-
understood The car, having been ap-
preached by Spain, announced in his or
gan:
The minister of foreign affairs yester-
day informed his exceIlency the am
bassador from Spain that in the event
of war between the United States and
Spain, growing out of the Cuban insurrec-
ton. that the government of the car is
compromised to support neither side, but
will observe a strict neutrality up TO
certain point
The certain point is that, if Japan
should take advantage of the situation
to seize the Spanish possessions in the
Orient, the car would feel himself called
upon TO intervene to prevent the -aggran-
II.
course are obvious. Reasons are Just
as obvious why the car would remain
strictly neutral between Spain and the
United States. 1t will be seen. there
fore, how necessary it is to understand
the map of alliances before constituting
even seemingly plain utterance.
1T also behooves the United States at
this time to understand the reason of
the new alignment of the powers of Eu-
rope During the past hundred years
Great Britain has pursued a policy of ag-
gression. Every spot on the earth that
seemed capable of only weak defense
was being brought under her power. 1t
is not unreasonable TO assert that. had
England been permitted to carry on her
I program for fifty years more. all of
Africa, or practically so. the richer parts
of Asia and many islands of the sea
would have fallen under her dominion.
and she would have been strong enough
to have dominated the world. Individual
nations of Europe had begun 10 follow
her example; but. when the Greek war
was deliberately fOmented for the pur-
pose of embToiling and weakening the
continental soveTeignties n halt was
called. and it was determined TO oppose
to her plans a concert of nations. and
to Circumscribe her audacious efforts
wherever possible. For this reason the
new Triple Alliance has been formed by
/ France, Germany and Russia. Peace in
Europe will maintain, but the boundaries
of the British empire have been stretched
to their utmost limit. unless she can con-
+ quer Europe. This has simply been a
matter of self-preservation. The interest
of the United States is To understand
the situation in this light. No European
nation has anything to fear from the
ambition of the United States. except
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