Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14
A NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE FORMED

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. referring
to things ethereal in a familiar colloQuy,
said: There are more
Strange things in heaven and earth.
HoratiO, than are dreamt Of
CvenIs' in thy philosophy" Hamlet
sage reflection may just now be applied
to things political. which are so strange
that they have never been in the dreams
Of the diplomat. For example. 1t was be-
yond the circle of imagination to conceive
that the entente cordiale recently created
between England. France and Russia
could eliminate in a firm alliance based
upon military convention
Our philosophy, indeed. was little pre-
! pared for the results of the visit of NJ.
Fallleres to King Edward and those of
King Edwards visit to Emperor Nicho-
las. as manifested in the heated dis
cussions in the European press. at the
present moment.
The novelty in the confessed new triple
alliance, Anglo Franco Russian. is the
union Of England and Russia. that of
France and Russia being already in its
teens.
The words spoken at the banquet at
Buckingham Palace. first by King Ed
ward, "a permanent entente cordiale."
and second by NJ. Fallieres. ito close up,
are expressions which have been inter-
preted. in conjunction with the visit of
King Edward to Reval, as certain in
dications of a new triple alliance.
There are two currents of opinions in
England. One opposes the alliance on the
ground that the entente is sufficient, and
that a declaration of war would be the
signal Of England's participation. The
second wisely considers the fact that
preparation must be made for such an
event. that international improvisations"
are unreliable and perilous. The Globe
frankly avows that eff we are to con-
clude trade with France we have not
enough to offer In exchange"
An article on this topic in the National
Review, signed anonymously "Ignotus,"
touches the heart of
Military the subject and has
Reouirement excited general atten-
ton. The unknown au-
thor, 1t is assumed, is either a distin-
guished diplomat or experienced soldier
perhaps both. He proceeds upon the the
Dry that the entente cordiale, while eff
cacious and beneficial in peace, would be
sterile in war for France, unless England
shall provide Immediately an army, capa-
BILE of rapid mobilization and complete in
every respect, Of 100000 men, well pro-
vided with artillery and having behind 1t
$4,000 men. I'VE can do nothing to aid
France says the author. eff we do not
offer her grand army in Lorraine"
LIE Temps, in commenting upon this dec
laration. says: IF the English army is
brought up to the plane demanded by the
writer an Anglo-French alliance coupled
with the Franco-Russian and the Anglo
Japanese alliances would bring equal guar
antees to all participants. If, on the con-
trary, the English army remains as 1t is.
and Paris and London are satisfied with the
entente-that is to say. friendly relations
without any engagements in view Of war
the situation will still be good for France
If there was war between England and
Germany, for France would not be held to
keep engagements on the field of battle
which had not been subscribed in writ
ing"
lie Temps refers to Germany's threat
that in any war with England she would
attack France in order to secure guar
antees on the continent" The Temps de-
clares that 1.-The theory of hostages might
have been menacing when France was dis
organized and when Russia. defeated,
could not help her. That time is past.
If Germany should attack France 1t
would Immediately bring into operation
the capital clause Of the Franco-Russian
military convention of 1892, and Ger
many would thus find herself between the
armies of France and Russia. The theory
then Of hostages to be taken from
France against England is n vain bug
bear, at which France may smile on con-
dition that she is capable in accord with
Russia, Of causing her armed neutrality
Ito be energetically respected
=.
The writer in the National Review re-
fers to the policy practiced by Bismarck
Of separating England and
Isolatinr France-a policy carried on
actively until 19O4-for eX-
InsAano' ample, the Tunisian affair;
Madagascar; the proposition made by
Germany in 1896 to France and Ger
many to counteract English policy; the
telegram of William II to Kruger; Ger
manys action in the Fashoda incident,
and Germanys influence by intermediary
of the German party at st. Petersburg
in melting the war again Japan. In the
latter case Germany would profit. in case
Japan was defeated, by the realization of
her project to carve out in China a
colonial empire; If Russia were defeated,
Germany would become the arbiter of af-
fairs on the continent at the same time
that France would be melted to war
against England.
What surprise in the diplomatic world,
then, and more than all at Berlin that
on the DdCh OI tUdl war WIS SISueO tuc
Anglo French treaty In April, 1904!
1t was the danger. the risk. Of an at
tack against France or England which
first inspired the foundation of the en-
tente cordale for protection. If France
allied herself with Germany to aid in the
destruction of England, France augment
ed the economical preponderance of Ger
many and placed herself at the mercy of
the latter. If England remained inert
while Germany destroyed France it would
be the ruin of the British empire. What
lessons, indeed. are conveyed to France
and England in turn by their inane
Inertia, the one at Sadowa, the other at
or at Sedan?
'Ignotus' further declares that the
peril of France and England has
not disappeared, but has increased, on the
army and navy have been reinforced
and Germany is forcing her preparations
for war. while, unhappily, both France
and England have commenced to disarm
If France should be attacked by Ger |
many, says '.Ignotus,'' it would be neces-
sary that England should /
question be ready on sea and on |
of corns land with the largest and |
strongest forces possible |
According to Gen. Bounal, assuming that |
England could send two army corps into
Lorraine within the first ten days of the |
war, Germany would even then oppose |
twenty-three army corps to the twenty |
three corps Of French and English.
"Ignotus" declares that in order to count |
in the balance scale efficaciously and |
the peace 1t Is absolutely neces-