New-York tribune., 1901-12-01

60 ,h.,- co,yictions In this respect and their
belief in the necessity OF being prepared 1or
such an eventuality. In that case the frleho-
ship of Italy would be OF invaluable Importance
to Russia since the former power could pour
troops Irto Croatia. into Herzegovina ana bos-
MIA as we'll into Albania long beiOIe any
Russian army could hope be on the spot.
This is the chief purpose which the leaders Vi
the pan-SIav movement in Russia have in view.
and while they anxious for italian co-opefa-
ton they have little fear that Italy would make
any serious effort to retain possession of the
nrovinces which she would have thus occupied
For the population of the provinces is essen
TALLY Slav. and both by ties OF race ana TIES
OF faith, the people are bound 10 Russia as the
leading Slav power, more than TO any Latin VI
Teuton State. 1t is true that portions OF Cfoata
nrofess the Roman Catholic faith. But ii is a
form of Roman Catholicism that has so much
in common with the orthodox rite that sach
Catholic sees as that of Diakovar, for instance,
give to the observant stranger the impression
., be,ne far more closely allied to the Greek
than to the Roman rite Moreover. the ran
slav leaders assume that Italy. in the event of
the disruption of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
would be content with those Austrian provinces
where Italian is still the language of the people.
Among the features of the Slav propaganda
in Italy Is the formation in all the principal
cities of committees for the alleged object of
liberating Albania from Turkish tyranny and
thraidom. II is perfectly true that there are
many ties of race between Italy and Albania. A
number Of the leading men in Italy. such as. for
instance the late ex-Premier Crispi. have been
OF Albanian ancestry. while what trade there
is in Albania is mostly in the hands of Italians.
Pan-Slav agents in Albania and the Montene-
grins just across the border, constantly
stirring up the Albanians to revolt against the
Turks. who. usual; resor: to much bloodshed
and cruelty in suppressing the revolts. In this
way a pretext is afforded for the invocation OF
Italian sympathies and for the demand OF
Italian intervention In Albania. The Austrian
Government, however. by means of a speech
delivered to the Parliamentary delegation by
its Foreign Minister, Count Goluchowski. has
given Italy plainly to understand that 1t will
not tolerate any Italian Intervention or occupa-
ton in Albania, and that any attempt to dis
turb conditions there would be resisted by Aus
tra Hungary to the extent of war. The Duai
Empire cannot for one moment tolerate the pos
session of Albania by such power as Italy,
which would give the latter absolute control
of the entrance to the Adriatic. and thus cut
off Austras access from the sea to her only
ports and naval arsenals.
This Albanian question: therefore, which is
continually becoming more acute, thanks to the
intriEues of the Caprari, or Queens party, is
serving to embitter Italy against her ally at
vienna and to cause her to turn her face in
the direction of Russia.
1t must not be forgotten that Queen Helen OF
italy is not only of Slav birth, but was likewise
reared in the Orthodox Greek faith. and was
brought up altogether at St Petersburg as
Russian princess at the expense and under the
care of the widowed Czarina. whose son, the
present Emperor, lowered her when she mar
ried the present King of Italy. She is. there
fore thoroughly Muscovite In her sympathies.
added to which she Is devoted to Montenegro
the land Of her BIRTH and to her father. ats
ruler and Russia's most devoted and energetic
dependent and agent in the Southeast or Eu-
rope drawing pay alike from the Car and from
the Pan-Slav committee.
Moreover it is pretty we'll known throughout
italy that the Queens conversion to the Roman
Catholic faith at the time of her marriage
was more pretended than real. and that she
has no sympathy for the Roman Catholic
faith. She. therefore. IS convinced that she