Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-04-11
new TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Italy to Withdraw From Austro-
German Compact.
NEW KINGS CHANGE OF POLICY.

Combination VIII Be Effected With
Russia and France-Recent Demon
stratiOn of FriendIfness Between
h Kaiser and King Edward VII
fastened 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
sent to Rome to confer Jointly with the
ambassadors of both countries there
and ever 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
ersonag connected with the French
ministry Of foreign affairs. Italy is
about to withdraw from the German
Austrian alliance to form with France
and Russia a new triple alliance. Said
The Inter Ocean correspondents infor-
mant:
emperor William and Emperor
Francis Joseph a fey. days ago de-
manded an 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
s'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 over the
murdered king, who lacked the energy
to take the initiative and was always
ready to seek shelter in a constitution
al monarch'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 b Italians hat their nation
would profit by an alliance with the
destfnies of the German empire as
shaped by Bismarck. The results have
proved disastrous economically and po-
litically to Italy, which has been sacrf-
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 were
detached from Germany even an An
glo-German combination could easily
be checkmated.
'eThe recent removal by France Of
certain prohibitive duties against ItaI-
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 ~uniication.
feThe coming visit of the Italian naval
squadron to French waters, where a
number of Russian men-of-war will
also be present, will serve as a pretext
for great friendly demonstrations, and
IN official proclamation of the new
alliance viii probably be made them