New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-22
WARTIME DIPLOMACY
alliances Poor Safeguards of P,,..
-B'smarchian Traditions

On. .. London. February Il
One OF the best cartoons IN "P,non,. 40
sehted Prince Bismarck as "the old ~. .1V'e-
NeI' ne veteran. with his hana = =
.'-'eF o. an open boat. was watching a - INC
- -, MS own tube as 1t was exploding No.
'-7 %" ol the 0attleship Triple Alliance r.
O@i ''oH was a striking pictorial descript,o, !.
we eHec' OF Prince Bismarck's Disclosure, :.
secret diplomacy by which defensive $3.50, %
we're undermined. There had been -I- IN.
EmperOrs' League. but AIexan5o- IT .Nles
hoerately proposed to invade Austria-ETr.,SN-
with the consent OF Germany: and IT,. -
been Triple Alliance for the defence -, .. a1
Europe against Russia and Francs. ara pa
Bismarck had contrived to nulllfv II ~, -
a secret compact with st. PETERSBURG tn,
ference which thoughtful men drew fror, -
astonishing revelations OF duplicity was -
coalitions and alliances were untrustxortbv -.
guards OF peace. and that every great -
must depend upon It's own armies and aes,, =
time Of war. This conclusion is confirmed W.
ever there Is an outbreak OF hostilitIes ~,
Is the ally Of Russia. yet has been ,at,,.
strenuous efforts to minimize its obligation. az
70 avoid being drawn into the conflict a, ~.
Far East. England is the ally OF Jauan b,. a
keeping on the best possible terms with Fro,..
Russia and Japan are left to fight their b,,,-
unaided. and the diplomatic activities ~ tn.,-
allies have been Of no avail IN the maIntsn,,o.
/ Of peace. Whether diplomatists blurt On. ~,
i secrets OF intrigues conducted IN the dark =,
was done by Prince Bismarck. or the facts Ar.
revealed by the lurid light OF war as IN N,
present instance, there is an inevitabIe shrips.
age OF public confidence IN the value and utn,,
OF alliances
The dIplOmatists. when reproached for thssr
| disingenuousness in undermining what they ar,
| accustomed to describe as safeguards for the
preservation Of the worlds peace. reply that On,
coalition IS balanced by another. ard that ths
| operations OF war are thereby restricted to tia
two powers which cannot settle their differences
amicabIy. Their Illustration IS Apostle. Franc,
might have Joined arms with Russia against
/ Japan II the new coalition had not been formed
/ and the republic been menaced with naval war
/ with England. The diplomatists are careful to
evade the point that Japan would probably have
been more cautious IN her diplomacy II there had
/ been active cooperation between Russia and
France. and that the present war might haW
been averted altogether. The Anglo-Japanss
alliance. in reality. prevented French intervS.
/ ton in the Far East and promoted the chances
/ OF wax By depriving Russia OF naval supper;
/ from q friendly power. Japan was strong
| enough on the seas to attack Russia IN sings
/ combat and has done so; and England. her ally.
has aided her IN keeping France out Of the con-
/ hict More potent than the influence Of TIA
! Anglo-Japanese alliance has been the effect Of
/ King Edwards visit 10 Paris and the French
| Presidents reception IN England. The Western
naval powers have been on the friendliest pos
sibIe terms and neither Is anxious to bring on
/ a contest for supremacy on the Atlantic and the
/ Mediterranean United they have been IN
their determination to remain at peace with
/ each other. they have been pOwerless 20 prevent
| the outbreak OF hostiItiss IN the Far East.
| The remote cause Of war was an intrigue BE-
| tween Russia and Germany. by which Japan
| was cheated out OF the spells Of war with CHINA
and compelled 70 look on idly while Russia occu-
| MED Port Arthur and obtained a lease OF Man
cburfa on terms scarcely distinguishes rom
permanent occupation The resentment caused
BY this successful diplomatic coup has supplied
the main motive for the recovery OF the ground
won bv arms and lost By negotiation and treach-
cry. The original intrigue indicated reVersiOn
% tia Bisrnarckian method OF forming a de-
i fensive coalition IN Central Europe against Rus
STA and secretly aiding the great Northern power
and placing St Petersburg under obligations 70
Berlin. This was the ingenious diplomacy which
[ euHNLeQ IA-eAA+N~--~--t
GortschakofY. TO work together. cheek oy joW+
for a long period. and to rscast the map Of Eu-
rops for mutual advantages. IL is the ss're'
canon OF German diplomacy that Russia 3 q
good working partner IN the dark, Whatever
NAV be the obligations OF treaty law and dynas-
ITO coalitions. and Prince BismarcFs successors
have never neglected an opportunity Tor DONG
business in St Petersburg.
--,e effect OF the various European coal1oiS'
moreover, has been the Isolation OK GelnlAH'
IRON, the Western powers. Deprived OF uus.'
worthy ally on the Continent. the FatneriAn-
lfSe Austria Hungary. has been compeAed
cultivate close relations with Russia ana 10 -
sociate itself with her inscrutable policy
Southeastern Europe. The balance OF poWaf'
=. r,.f,+afrad nv coalitions which offset 'n'
a,otbar when Berlin and St Petersburg 40
1est at liberty TO work together as e1scu'''
IN Prince Bismarcks time. During ths ~.
tiations which were abruptly broken Oh
Imam Russia was favored with the -
s,,nDort OF Germany: and this Informal eO14-
% baIpfulness and good feeling IS likely % 80
tinus while the war is in progress IheIs W." -,
no omen violation OF neutral OoliSatlON''
Russia VIII probably receive the dipIoihS
slstance OF Germany II her fleet - 70 "
leased from the Black Sea or any 49,,
r,ents are requisite for provisioning OF 80 -
Il on the way to Port Arthur or 'IaDi'O..
Germany fs more likely than France 70 y n
r,,1 70 Russia during the wa and ser'1's' 50,
be rendered on the old fashioned prlH0ipe ...,.
one good turn deserves another me -.
OF the numerous German policies Is '.'o "a
ton OF the Dutch and Danish raoh'll oii-19 "a
customs union and imperial syS'ei" -'-,,.rt
FatherIand. for this viii round our - md
colonial deDeuQeuClco se~~
in Importance only to those OF - aeon
-. ca, he most helpful to Germany IN a',S-,
-1,as,,,,. barssIf 70 the Incorporation OF
ion and also 20 LA-