The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-04-02
NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Italv to Withdraw From Austro-
German Compact.
NEW KINGS CHANGE OF POLICY.

Hastened the Plan.
For the last three months there have
been persistent rumors of important
diplomatic work being done in Italy by
French and Russian agents. 1t was
known that special ENJOYS from Paris
and st. Petersburg had been repeatedly
sen to Rome to confer Jointly with the
ambassadors Of both countries there
and even directly with King Victor
Emmanuel. but every effort to ascer-
tain the purport of the mysterious
transactions has heretofore failed.
The Chicago Inter Ocean correspond
ent there throws light on them through
the disclosures made by two important
~personages connected With the French
ministry of foreign affairs. Italy is
about to withdraw from the German
Austrian alliance to form with France
and Russia 4 new triple alliance. Said
The Inter Ocean correspondents infor-
mant:
Emperor William and Emperor
Francis Joseph a few days ago de-
manded all explanation from Italy. and
a very clear one has just been forward
ed from Rome. There is to be a new
combination. embracing Italy, France
and Russia. and the details have al
ready been nearly completed.
1.-THE new king Of Italy has always
regarded Crispi's policy as injurious to
Italy's welfare. King Humbert him
self had misgivings concerning the
wisdom Of allowing Italy to be towed
behind Prussian and Austria. to be
used only in an emergency. but Crispi
had an uncanny influence yer the
murdered king. who lacked the energy
to take the initiative and was always
ready to seek shelter in a constitution
al monarcb's Responsibility. He al
lowed Crispi and his disciples to pur-
u their policy of estrangement from
France and trying by every means to
convince the Italians that their nation
would profit by an alliance with the
shaped by Bismarck. The results have
proved disastrous economically and pc.
litically to Italy, which has been sacri-
feed at every turn until her prosperity
has been absolutely destroyed and her
prestige reduced to naught.
when Victor Emmanuel assembled
the throne, he lost no time in max
ing overtures to France. His personal
sympathies and Judgment demanded
it. while the public sentiment of the
peninsula clamored for a speedy bring
ing together of the two Latin nations.
Russia was Immediately consulted. and
she gave assent under conditions
which are now being discussed. The
recent demonstrations of friendliness
between England and Germany have
FASTENED the negotiations wonderfully.
France and Russia feel that the Aus
tria-Hungarian empire is threatened
with disruption and that if Italy We're
detached from Germany even an An.
glo-German combination could easily
be checkmated.
"The recent removal by France q
certain %prohibitive duties against ltai,
ian products is significant in this con.
nectiOn. as is also the intense news.
paper campaign. evidently subsidized
by the government, just started across
the Alps. aimed to undo the previous
work on the public mind by showing
how closely related the two races are
and how similar their political and
commercial interests. and recalling the
part taken by French armies in eff
fecting Italian u%nification.
"The coming visit of the Italian nava
| squadron to French waters, where q
number of Russian men-of-war will
also be present, will serve as a pretex1
for great friendly demonstrations. anG
an official proclamation Of the e
alliance will probably be made then
State Advertising Censor.
A state censor of advertising is the