Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24
Talk of the Formation of q New
Triple Alliance.
SUFFRAGISTS GET A SETBACK
Claim Of Scotch University Grad
yates to Vote at Parliamentary
Elections Dismissed.
Special Correspondence of fhe Star.

alliance between Great Britain, France
and Russia. 1t has been ION the car
pet" for some time, and now the Russian
foreign minister states that a formal
triple alliance between these powers is
contemplated
An understanding which commits these
powers to joint action In certain circum-
stances already exists. and there is not
the least doubt that negotiations for CIV
ing definite form to 1t are now in prog
ress. It Is. however; far from likely that
any public intimation of their conclu-
sions will be given. and beyond a gen
eral idea of the scope of such an alli-
ance no more detailed information will
be accessible than is to be obtained Of the
existing triple alliance.
1t is curious that at the time of the birth
Of this alliance the old triple alliance
should be approaching its dissolution.
Many months ago the detachment of
Italy from her neighbors was evident
After the events of the past week no
join in this inconvenient and degrading
partnership. Italy has today Joined in
tho boycott Of Austrian goods.
Italy knows well that II Austria were
to extend her power through the Balkans
Italian trade would soon have to find
other outlets. The Italian people never
liked the triple alliance. 1t was purely
a marriage of convenience between the
cabinets and courts. Italy has always
found herself in the position Of the poor
re alton, and has had enormous military
burdens placed on her. She now realizes
that her destiny lies in future with the
other Latin nations.
1t is curious symptom Of the uncer-
tain conditions Of International affairs just
now that no fewer than six foreign min
listers are in peril of their offices.
In Russia NJ. Isvolski. thanks to the
intrigues of the pan-Slav party, Is daily
becoming more unpopular and his posi-
ton more and more difficult. Debates
in the Italian chamber show that Signor
Tittoni has practically no support. Nom
inal adherents to his party attacked him
the other day and between the tnces-
SAINT demands Of both Germany and Aus
growing antipathy Of the Italian people
to the triple alliance his position is I'M
stable
Even the warmest admirers of Prince
Won Buelow admit that his days are
numbered, and it is known that he Is by
no means averse to retirement from a
public life which has brought him more
worry than glory. and during which he
has estranged himself almost as much
from his emperor as from the German
people.
NJ. Pichon, in France, although an ad-
mirably safe man, Is not brilliant and
not altogether fitted to control the diff
cult foreign policy Of France at so crit
place warm. In Turkey Kiamil Pasha |
will soon make way for Hilmt Pasha, |
and even Belgium is In the throes OF
military crisis, and I understand M. |
Schollaert is likely to find himself in such |
a minority that he will have no alterna-
tive but to resign.
Women Refused Franchise.
An incident that has had more serious |
interest than any other Of the suffragist
campaign so far came to an end |
when the final court Of appeal dis |
missed the claim Of the lady graduates |
of Scottish universities to be allowed to |
vote at parliamentary elections. They |
claimed the vote on the ground of the |
inclusion Of their names In the university |
register. The argument that they, as |
we'll as mere men, were persons and |
that the act governing the university |
was of no avail, and the presence Of |
their names on the register did not serve
to override the disability that parliament |
has placed upon women. The ladies'
however, made an able and dignified
bid for the suffrage. and the pride that |
their clever spokesman, Miss Chrystal
Macmillan, has expressed in having been |
permitted to appeal for the vote in the
house of lords itself is not unnatural.
Miss Macmillan, who is "a young lady |
of considerable personal charm, argued
her case with consummate skill in
speech that occupied the attention of the
law lords for several days. She was SO
thoroughly acquainted with her subject
that she was never at a loss for q fact,
or a date, or a set of figures, and only
on very rare occasions had to refer to
her voluminous brief" There has been
nothing more pleasing in the house of
lords for long time than the mingled
courtesy and amusement with which the
lord chancellor heard her and now and
again questioned her, and Miss Macmil-
an may salve her disappointment with
the reflection that, on her showing, there
are some women. at all events, whose
mental equipment would make them adj
mirable The conduct of the Scottish
ladies is contrasted favorably with the
violent tactics Of the "shriekng sister,
hood Of England
Lord Kitchener is coming home from
India shortly and his next task is al
ready cut out for him. A suggestion has
already taken shape, both in London and
in the colonies to the effect that he
of linking the local land forces in the
colonies to the British army, with view
to producing one solid army for the en-
pire.
I have obtained the opinion Of one of
the foremost of colonial soldiers, who Is
at present visitor in London. on the
subject. He considers the accomplish
ment Of Mr.. Haldanes plans for the for
nation of an imperial general staff might
naturally be followed by visit Of inspec-
ton from Lord Kitchener In the colonies,
where he would ''be received with enthu-
siasm." Thereafter it could be left for the
imperial general staff, which is now In
process of formation, to elaborate q
scheme under which all soldiers, militia
men or volunteers in Britain and the col
onies might become integral units in the
one imperial army.
The citizen army of Canada is repre-
sented in London just now by Sir Fred
erick Borden, the minister OF defense. and
the land forces Of the commonwealth Of
Australia are represented here by Maj.
Gen. Hoad. The colonials state that the
idea predominant among them is that
they can best serve the empire by under
taking the defense Of their own coasts.
But Just as they sent cOntingentS Of vol
unteers to the South African war. so
would they come to the aid Of tho home
army In any future great war.
The efficiency of the colonial forces, 1t
is believed, would be infinitely promoted
by the formation of an imperial general
staff, and by such linking up of the land
forces all round the empire in single
imperial army as Lord Kitchener might
accomplish.
Millions for the Unemployed.
The local government board has sane |
toned further loans in the case Of Man |
chester and Liverpool for dealing with |
the unemployed. More than $125OO.OOO