The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-14
DIPLOMACY ALL TANGLED UP.
EUROPEAN POLITICIANS ARE
WHOLLY BEWILDERED.

Commercial Relations Upset tho Old
Aiiiances-Germany'sT Trade Ambitions
Alarm the Rest OF EurOpe-Mess
In the balkans an Unexplained Puzzle.
ROME May 2s-The period through
which Europe is now passing is confusion
itself. Some one has written a treatise on
Economic Contradictions, to-day the
treatise on diplomatic Contradictions"
might be written. Nobody is in his right
place. No master thought appears in
either acts or words cannot be persuaded
that the battle which ia being fought is
anything else than a battle of tariffs and
that the st akes are international commerce.
As regards Germany and the Powers in the
Triple Alliance the question is distinctly
put The political treaty has been re-
newed without settling the economic diff
Guilty; 1t exists and was recently, it seems,
the subject of conversation between Herr
Won Brlow and the Italian Minist ers. Moth
ing has been said about their coming to any
agreement.
Between Germany and England the same
fight has been taken up on far greater
scale. Tile mastery Of the seas is at stake,
where the progress Of the German merchant
marine Is in decided conflict with the
British feet. 1t Is a question OF commercial
preponderance, which Germany intends to
conquer by a double man9uvre. namely,
by closing her home markets while securing
from competing Powers free trade In their
domain 1t is matter, lastly, OF the great
trade routes Of the world, which Germany
proposes to secure to her'eif by her famous
march toward the East" and the building
Of the Asia Minor railroad to the Persian
Gulf, while Russia and England, conscious
Of the danger and anxious to ward 1t on,
oppose this great scheme
From this statement OF facts it will be
perceived that almost everywhere political
interests clash with economic interests.
Hence the general confusion in the rela-
lions between nations, and consequently
the danger OF crisis which the desire Of
the Governments for peace 6nds 1t 80 diff
cult to ward of.
A four-handed game is being played by
Germany England Russia and France,
which is described almost in these words
by a Paris correspondent. who has appar-
emily an official character: .The principal
cause of tho King of highlands visit to Paris
was the settled idea OF great French
Russian British combination, with the pur-
pose Of isolating Germany. France would
ACCEPT in that event the part Of 60
between" To quote the very expression
used In this statement "They have found
out In London that the road to st. Peters
burg passes through Paris
Well and good. but II the germ Of this
policy Is TO be found In recent events, how
can these be reconciled with the attitude
taken BY each Of these Powers In the mat
ter of the Bagdad railroad. where France
and Germany are on one side and England
and Russia on the other?
1t Is likewise difficult to SEQ clearly in
the events In the Balkans. In Europe it
is the party Of peace the party with anti
military leanings that is urging on toward
complications and reproaching the govern
nents for their hesitancy and APATHY
1t looks as though it were shutting its eyes
to tho eventual danger Of q great war and
the inevitable increase OF authority for
military commanders that would be the
result OF a period Of armed conflict In
which their services would DO indispen-
cable
The situation Is no less obscure on the
ground itself At Salonica tho victims are
the Ottoman Bank, the natives themselves,
and the European establishments, Why?
At Mitrovitza 1t is the Russian Consul
Athens and Constantinople which were
fighting q few years ago, are now closely
united. At Sofia tho Daneff Cabinet has
been dismissed by Prince Ferdinand for
being too moderate. Yet the Prince before
returning to his principally must have
come into touch with Europe and have
become acquainted with the peaceful senti-
ments that are declared 90 theoretically
by the different Cabinets Contradictions
everywhere.
To turn to matters OF secondary i'm
portance. The acute crisis that has been
confined 80 far to the Balkans Is beginning
to spread into the neighboring regions.
In Croatia grave dssensions have arisen
between slavs and Magyars; the conse-
quences OF the movement will be OF great
importance to the Austrian confederation.
At Innsbruck In Tyrol conflicts no less seri-
Gus have broken out between Germans and
Italians At Trieste tho -irredenta' move
ment Ia growing stronger. Everywhere
the allies Of yesterday are attacking each
other and new combinations are being
formed. Whittier are we being led and
who is leading US? That is the perplexing
question
There Is fortunately one hope, namely,
that the happy and quick solution Of tho
great economic difficulty which Is at the
bottom Of this crisis will soften rivalries
and jealousies and will open for the people