The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05
TRIPLE ALLIANCE:
 BEING QUESTIONED Many Reports Claim Matter
 Is Not Permanent 1912 RUSSIAN BUDGET Dangers of TurkO-ltalian Conflict Very Small as Compared With
 Moroccan Dispute-Anglo-
 German Antagonism
1912 RUSSIAN BUDGET
sv FREDERICK WERNER

as in vienna, there IS q Sood1 1oS"i VI NF@
 ulation as to the permanency ot the
 triple alliance.
 Clerical papers in Vienna, whose con-
 nection with the highest circles IS hoso- rious. have been debating the attitude or the vienna foreign office towards ltaly.
 They declare that since the annexation
 crisis Count Aerenthal has continually
 courted Italian favor, and rendered Italy
 great services, although the Rome gov
 ernment ranged itself, in all European
 questions, on the side of the western pow
 CTS. and did not even deign to post her
 alien for her intentions regarding Trip
 oli. These papers declare that the posi-
 ton of Count Aerenthal is shaken, and
 that the question of his successor is even
 being discussed.
 In consequence of an article i'll the Ser liner Tageblatt, in which the enunciation of the triple alliance is recommended. re- ports have gained ground that in leading quarters in vienna and Berlin dissoiu-
 tion of the alliance, so far as Italy is con oorned, is desired. These statements are discussed in leading articles by the Vii enna journals.
 Other papers recall the utterances of Prince Bulow, who said: "Italy can cnly be allied with Austria, or else at war with her.
 1 The considerable military preparations l of Italy on the Austrian frontier and the reported mobilization of an army corps at Milan. Verona, Turin and Genoa are regarded here as extraordinary. The feel | 11y-f lon for all the Vienna papers publish the recent lecture given at Vienna by the Berlin rGblicist, Herr Maximillian Hard en whose relations with Bismarck are well known. He spoke upon Morocco and Tripoli, and said it was entirely due to Anglo-German differences that France finds herself in Morocco and that Italy has taken possession of Tripoli. Herr Harden argued in favor of the removal of Italy from the triple alliance, which, he said, brought advantage neither to Germany nor to Austria. Great astonish- ment was caused by Herr Harden's asser ton that. according to the opinion shared by leading influential persons in Germany, a war between France and Germany is unavoidable, and will occur within rela- lively short time.
 Thoughtful statesmen, indeed, attach very little importance to Italy's presence in the triple alliance. The Berliner Tage- blatt prints a long article, from a spe- cial quarter advocating Italy's expul- sion from the alliance, as "undoubtediy, iii the future, the friendship of Turkey would be more valuable to us than that of her present opponent" However, the paper which prints these views dissociates itself from them, suggesting the eonsid- eration whether Italy would not be d rear increase of strength to the opponents of Germany and Austria if she was thrust out of the triple alliance
 From a source that has nearly always proved reliable hear, however, that the Kaiser and Emperor Francis Joseph strongly wish to maintain the present grouping of powers, as otherwise Italy would be made an open and bitter enemy of Germany and Austria.
 The policy of the Ballplatz in this re- srect, therefore. will remain unchanged, whether Count von Aerenthal remains at his post or Is relieved, as some of the Berlin papers seem to wish These jour rals are not only dissatisfied with Italy, but also with Count von Aerenthal, who. they say, has not sufficiently supported Germany in Morocco. The clerical press in Austria also attacks Count von Aeren- thai. The count went too far, they de- clare, in currying Italys favor. His in activity at the time of the last Albanian rising and the recent Italian naval action in the Adriatic severely injured Austrias reputation in the near east. AS the cler- ical Journals are usually well informed the conclusion might be drawn that tho heir to the throne disapproves of Count von Aerenthals policy. Anyhow. there is so far no sign that Count von Aerenuhal has forfeited the favor of the mona arch. His position is certainly not so strong as at the time of the annexation of Bosnia. hut his resignation need not be expected in the immediate future.
 The Russian estima ted budget for 1912 has just been presented to the dumas It balances with total of 2,975, ,252, 100 roubles and shows an anticipated surplus of or dinary revenue over ordinary expendi- lure of more than 169 000,O0o roubles SS5,- oOc 0o0) thus enabling the minister of | finance to assign an increase of credit to the ministry of war of 70,000,000- roubles: 1 to extend the sum already allotted this 1 year for railroad construction by II ,5OO- | 900 roubles. and to devote 900 roubles 1 towards writing off of the national iebt. 1 This favorable financial statement for the next 12 months is the result of the splen- did harvest of the last two years and the careful financial policy followed since the war with Japan.
 The dangers of the Italo-Turkish con- l 1ict are small as compared with those of the Morocco dispute. for in the back | ground of that question is Anglo German antagonism. the only question that counts | in the European situation today. The Moroccan imbroglio, however, Is consd- cred practically arranged in our political circles. The negotiators have settled the quality of the goods that are to be de- l livered by Germany; it now remains only to agree on the price.
 The Congo part of the understanding will be relatively smooth affair France
 gains too much by obtaining the protec- torate of the Shereefian empire to haggle
 ever a few swamps near the Cbangi. Of
 course, there will be popular discontent,
 both in Germany and In ,France. but wher.
 concluded the settlement will be approved
 in both countries. by a sane majority of the people. as equitable and fair on the d :, ut des principle.
 The alternative would be a return to the pre-Agadir unsettlement; indeed. to an aggravated form thereof, disturbing bus mess and credit and threatening the peace of Europe. The prospects now are for q
 Franco-German reapproachment. so much
 more profitable than mutual suspicion. Morocco herself will be the greatest sain-
 CT, for she will henceforth be able to de- l yelop her resources under the auspices of
 a rich European nation with an open door to all countries.
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