The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
ALLIES NOT FRIENDS
INDICATIONS OF THE IMPENDING ABANDONMENT
OF SOME EXISTING TREATIES

Gallant old Gen. Count Lama. who for
more than fourteen years has. been Am
bassador Of Italy to Germany. and one
OF the most popular figures in Berlin So
clety, has insisted upon resigning his Of
nee. and does not make any secret about
admitting that the altered relations be-
tween his own nation and the country TO
which he is accredited have rendered his
position quite the reverse Of pleasant in
the Teut0n metropolis. He feels all the
more strongly about the matter owing 10
the fact that al the time OF his appoint
rnent by the late King HumbeFt she
union between the reigning houses of
Prussia and of Italy. and between their
respective governments, was Of the closest
and most intimate character. a condition
Of affairs which continued until about
three years ago. since which time there
has been gradually growing estrange-
ment, that has become particularly pro-
nounced since the failure Of Victor EN-
rnanueTs plenipotentiaries to support
those OF the Kaiser at the Algeciras con-
gress on Morocco. last spring. The gen
eral was formerly persona gratissima at
Emperor william court. and was treated
rot only by that monarch. but also by
the military and civilian authorities as the
representative OF a trusted ally, from
whom It was unnecessary 70 withhold any
secrets. He has appreciated that. Of late.
this confidence in italy. and also IN its
representative, has ceased. Old friends
have manifested q tendency to become
colder and sitter toward him, and so un
congeniaI has the atmosphere become at
Berlin that he has declined 10 remain
there any longer
That the Kaiser. does not view this OBJ
vious disposition on the part Of Italy to
break away from the Triple Alliance with
cquauimity is evident from his dispatch
OF NJ. de Tschirschky, the new secretary
Of state for foreign affairs, to Rome. and
that. too, az the very moment when Baron
Iswolsky, the Russian minister OF foreign
affairs, is at Berlin. The baron's pres
ence on the banks OF the Spree at this
particular juncture is extremely signif-
cant For IL follows Immediately upon
| the advent TO Office at Paris OF an ed-
ninistratlon not only constructed, but
I
man OF ali others who has always been
vehement in the expression OF his disap-
proval OF the alliance between Russia
and France. NJ Clemenceau has always
taken the ground that this particular al
lance was an altogether one-sided affair.
Of little or no use to France. but which
has been Of incaIculabie advantage to
Russia, by enabling her to Obtain millions
upon millions Of French gold IN loans
which could never have been foated IN
Paris without The existence Of the alIi-
ance between the two natioug. Is q rad
ic8l Of the advanced type, and man
whose inherited Gallo republicanisn was
further developed by American de-
mocracy. imbibed during a residence Of
nearly ten years in this country as school
teacher and physician, he has always
found IL difficult TO profess any sympathy
whatsoever with government so despOJic
as that OF the Gar, and IN deaouncing
MusCOyite autocracy and tyranny. both In
and out Of Parliament, has frequently
stigmatised the union between the French
republic and the Russian sbsolutisr1 as a
nesalliance, rather than as a b-ua fde
alliance. All Of CIemenccauTs gympathieS
IN foreign matters are with Great Britain
and with the United States rather than
Petersburg, and. inas-nUch as the Glen
enceau administration is the strongest
formed snce the foundation sof :he
present republic, and seems destined 10
control the fortunes Of France for con-
siderable time to come, Emperor Nicholas
has apparently determined 10 accept the
Proffered hand OF the Kaiser. TO cut adrift
frcm France, which declines any longer TO
float Russian loans. and TO cooperate
4 -f~r- rr-f
Empire Alliance which bound Russia,
Austria. and Germany together in the
days Of Alexander II and Of old En-
Peror William On neither side viii the
severance Of the Franco Russian union
be regretted. Popular sentiment in France
VAS with japan rather than With Rus
sia during the recent war, though the
French government, anxious 70 do what
II could for its ally without involving It.
self IN the conflict, strained TO such an
extent its obligations Of neutrality, es-
pecIalIy in connection with the progress
Of Admiral Rojestvenskys armada from
the Baltic to the China seas. as to almost
provoke q hostile descent by the japanese
upon Tonkin and IGdo-China. Russia,
on the other hand. displayed but little
gratitude for the assistance thus render
ed 20 the Baltic feet, but resented bitter
ty the attitude OF the French people dur
ing the struggle. and above all the reluc-
tance OF the French money market 20
float any more Muscovite loans. contrast
ing the conduct Of la haute finance al
Paris with that Of Berlin. which showed
itself much more accommodating. In one
word. the Franco-Russian alliance, mori-
bund for near two years past, is now vir-
tusily dead, and it will not be long be
fore its final dissolution will be proclaim
ed by means Of the announcement Of the
new grouping Of the powers.
Not only Emperor Francis Joseph, but
also his nephew and heir-appaTent
Grandduke Francis Ferdinand. is known
to be In favor Of the revival Of the Three
Empire Alliance. in lieu Of the Triple AL
lance and OF the Franco-Russian Ali
ance. Baron Lexa Won d'Aehrenthal. who
has just been appointed to succeed Count
Golouohowski as minister OF foreign af-
fairs and de facto chancellor OF the dual
empire, is a warm friend Of Russia, hav-
ing spent almost his entire life since he
attained manhood in St. Petersburg. first
as attache, then as secretary Of embassy,
and afterward for many years as ambas-
sador \ diplomat does not live in a for
eign capital for near twenty-five years
without becoming. perhaps uncOnsciOusly.
identified with the prejudices and SYM