Arizona republican., 1903-12-01
End of the Triple Alliance In Sight,

The Triple Alliance cannot long sur vive such Italian outbreaks as have been witnessed in Rome during the last few days. When mobs in Italy trample the flag of Austria under foot t denotes an omInous change in pop ular feeling. However. it is nothing new that the alliance with Germany and Austria Hungary has become un- popular with the people of Italy. The compact formed in 1882 by Bismarck, Andrassy and Crispi, whereby Germany, Austria Hungary and Italy obligated themselves to stand together in mutual defense, has borne especially hard upon Italy It was popular for many years for it fiattered the national pride Of the Italians. But the requirements Of the bond caused a tremendous drain upon Italian resources. For the mainte- nance of a huge standing army and the creation and support of a great navy, the Italian people have been taxed beyond their endurance.
 As the years passed, and the glory
  palled upon the Italian imagination, the grumblings on account of the taxes increased. Meanwhile. Bismffck, whose master mind conceived the Triple Alliance and made it a tangible obstruc- ton in the way of French ambition, had died. CrisDi had died. and new men whose political training had not been gained m the shadow of Bismarcks personality succeeded to the manage ment of Italy's affairs. What is Italy getting out of this alliance business Q" has been asked more and more ire quently during the late years. Against Austria particularly. a feeling positively unfriendly has been developed because a small district in Austria which is chiefly Italian in population wishes to be united with the mother country and Austria opposes. And England and France have not been slow to cultivate Italian friendship as the signs multi piled that the Triple Alliance had be- come unpopular. In British foreign policy, it is a matter of fact that next to fostering the friendship of the United States a rapprochement with Italy has been the uppermost con- sideration. Evidences are numerous tha. Italy has succumbed to English attention. King Edward, who has proved himself one of the shrewdest politicians and diplomats in the world, has made a speciality of strengthening the friendship between England and Italy His visit to Rome, and the re- turn visit of the king and queen ot Italy to London last week have result ed in a close diplomatic under standing between the two countries. One Of the immediate results is the arbitra ton treaty between he two nations announced from London few days ago.
 IL is to be expected that the Triple Alliance will continue in existence, nominally. at least. until the death of the Austrian emperor. But it is re- garded inevitable that when the aged Francis Joseph passes away there will be disruption of the empire over which he has reigned so long. If the plans of the German emperor are con summuted the German provinces over which Francis Joseph now reigns will be absorbed by Germany. Barring the interference of Germany and Russia, Italian ambitions for the acquisition of further territory on the Mediterran- can will be satisfied and there will be e general encouragement of the map. That Italy's desire in this direction will have the strong support of the