Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

hungary WOulu De aNllCdpiy sctlico- AhS
result of the elections will have no ap-
preciable effect upon Italy's relations with
Austria-Hungary and NJ Tittoni. the min
lister of foreign affairs. will doubtless re-
main to parry as best he may the thrusts
Of Baron d'Aerenthal, his Austrian ad-
versary.
The Balkan question is having a re-
lapse, and this condition will doubtless
continue until the powers signatory of the
treaty of Berlin take their courage in
both hands and convoke the conference
which should have assembled the morn
ing after the crisis in October last Aus
tria-Hungary may fight Servia. but she
will not fight if Servia Is backed up by
all Europe. Austria has put up a huge
bluff. which the powers only now appear
to comprehend.
The dispatches from London. Belgrade
and Vienna are confusing and manifest
some nervousness. They announce that
1.-The negotiations have failed. that there
is decline at the bourse," and they sug-
gest that Austria appears eager to pun
ish her little neighbor." who. barring the
antics of the crazy or degenerate Prince
George. is pacific. This parsonage is re
ported as having renounced his right to
the throne, a remuneration which the
skuptchina should hasten to ratify.
Italy looks to the Balkans for an outlet
for her commerce. her industrial popula-
ton and particularly in that
Italy's 'Altra Sponda," which is AL
o,,41.. bania, on the southwestern
coast of the Adriatic. to which
Italy is bound both by ties of tradition
as well as interest.
Russia, we were told after the some
what vague reply of Servia to the Aus
trian note, would assume the role of
mediator. Russia frankly told Servia
that 1.-THE powers were not disposed to
lend their support to the idea of terri
torial compensation, and that Servia, in
order to preserve the sympathies of the
powers, should desist from all demands
which might lead to an armed conflict
with Austria-Hungary."
Servia accepted Russia's counsel and
affirmed that she did not desire war and
would continue her relations with her
mitted her case to the signatory powers
of the treaty of Berlin as the only com
petent tribunal" 1t is this end of the
Servian note which has undoubtedly
created dissatisfaction at Vienna, where
it was hoped Servia would be induced
to come to parley. The Austfo- Hunga
rian government has not replied, but the
press has declared that there can be no
question of conference until there is
direct understanding with Servia. Aus
tria-Hungary then places herself in the
situation of debating to the powers, if not
in actual defiance of them.
A writer In the review Questions Dip
lomat ct Coloniales." under the title
of Italy and the Oriental Crisis" re-
views the situation In the Balkans with
the view of showing Italy's interests
there. which are considerable and will
count for much in case Of an Austro-
Servian war.
Italy, more than any other European
power, is impelled to interest herself in
the near-eastern question.
Italian A very recent book by
r.+.,. NJ. Giovanni Amadori
Virgilj, entitled La
QUESTION: Rumelista la Politica Itali-
ana" contains more than LOCO pages of
documented matter showing the great in
terest which the government, at Rome
manifests in the Balkan queAtion. NJ.
Amador Virgil explains the composition
OF the Roumelist parties Macedonia. old
Servia, Albania and Epirus) and their
tendencies. Italy's geographical situation
suggests that she should keep an eye
upon the ottoman coast of the Adriatic,
that no hostile power install itself there.
If Italy has no ambition to acquire
preponderance in the Mediterranean sea
she has. on the contrary, a legitimate
desire to develop her interests in the
Adriatic. and NJ. Amadori Virgil de-
clares that Italy should extend her zone
Of influence in old Servia, Albania and
the Epirus, which are her natural mar
kets OF exchange. Not only in the coun-
tries named should Italian influence ex-
tend, but to the whole of the Balkan
peninsula, and even at Constantinople,
1 r1,nr-A Afvr,n
exercised preponderant influence.
But, adds the distinguished Italian au-
thor: cit is since 1895 that the govern
ment Of Rome has turned toward Con-
ent has become In her eyes a question of
particular Importance. Since Adoua it has
become matter Of national Importance"
And the author cites from the speech Of
NJ. Sonnino in 1881, when he said, not
without melancholy, that for Italy to go
to Berlin 1t was necessary to pass by
Vienna"
Italy. indeed, concluded an alliance with
her hereditary enemy with regret and be-
cause her interests, 1t was assumed,
commanded: she assumed that France
was absorbed with ideas of revenge for
her lost provinces and saw with dis
quiet the French army reorganize. Italy
listened to propositions from Germany
and yielded in spite of her repugnance in
becoming the ally at the same time Of a
nation which had annexed her territory,
and had never thought OF surrendering
either Trieste or the Trentin.
4 Il
The triple alliance has been weighted
down because Of the bad feeling between
Austria and Italy. which
Bitter has increased with time.
r..1;, M. Vifgilj cites from the
Revue Pour les Francois
of December %. 1903, which was widely
commented upon by the Italian press. the
arguments of NJ. Batusta Pelleg1ini, au-
thor of the book "Verso Ia Guerra" who
shows why the question Of Trieste and
Trentin had fatally separated Italy and
Austria and that their relstions had BE-
come more and more estranged.
But Italy's lost provinces were not the
only causes Of friction between Rome and
Vienna. The Balkan question had also
dug ditch which every day was be-
sula there was discord between the
Austro- Hungarian and Italian policies.
1t was Bismarck who, DESTROYS OF hav-
ing Austria's hands tied, launched her at