The Washington herald., 1911-10-28
CONFLICT IS UNAVOIDABLE
BETWEEN AUSTRIA ANDITALY

When a nation that has long played a
passive, perhaps even a subordinate, part
in international politics suddenly as
sumes a leading role and boldly steps
into the center of the limelight it is
not always the result of opportunity
alone. More often there is a forceful
personality that has created such oppor-
tunity This was the case when Prus-
sia so Unexpectedly cut loose from the
superannuated German empire, of which
the Emperor of Austria for centuries
had been the nominal ruler, and after
subduing that country in 1866 and an
! neXing Hanover and Hessia (CasseD,
Fought France for the supremacy. Prus-
sia never could have accomplished all
this, nor even dared to undertake the
stupendous risk, but for Bismarck's di
plomacy and Moltke's strategic superior
lty. This was again the case when Aus
tria swooped down upon Bosnia and
herzegovina, and 1t is so again now,
though this has been little realized in
ltaly's action in Tripoli.
The parallel between the Bosnia affair
of 1908 and that of Rome at present is
curiOusly close. In both instances a
power. satisfied for decades with a de-
fensive role. almost debarred from any
offensive steps by treaties and the acute
| home problems. is stirred to self-asser-
| ton and a desire for expansion and at a
! moments notice strikes resounding, al
most decisive blow. And in both cases
| the blow was aimed az Turkey. And in
| both cases, also, It marks the appearance
Of bold and skillful newcomer upon the
| European chess board. 1t was the coup
| against Bosnia and Herzegovina that
| first gave an astounded world the meas
ure of Count Won Aehrenthal and Tripol'
reveals the vigorous figure Of the Mar
quis dl San Giuliano.
Austria and Italy for four decades have
been. and still are. cosignatories to the
! triple alliance created by the wisdom of
Bismarck. who, knowing that Germany
| in those days of her renaissance stood
in need of sound and powerful backing,
lighted upon the two other arch enemies
OF France for the coveted "Dreibund,
viz: Austria, which never has forgotten
the indignties heaped upon her country
and ruling house by the first Napoleon
the climax of which was reached wher
the ''parvenu' emperor compelled the
proud scion OF the HapsburGs to purchase
peace and UnmOlested further independ
ence by giving his daughter. the Arch
duchess Marie Louise. as his second wife
and Italy, which never forgot the thirc
NapOleOn'S interference in Rome, MOI
LISA. nor Solferino. nor Magenta. Bis
marck was shrewd enough to fOTesee ir
those faraway days that II italy anC
Austria were not friends. even through
COmpulsiOn. they would soon become foes
because as | pointed out the other day
Austria held and partly still holds swa!
I'm tho northern provinces of the 1taliaI
peninsula, Illyria and Dalmatia-evel
after she was compelled in 1855 to dis
gorge Venetia and Lomhardv. which sh
has ruled for Il long time through inter
marriages with their prinCely houses.
Thus they are Historical and natura
7 ANTAGONISTS on the same scashOre bu
kept locked in compulsory embrace
| Nothing could he more disastrous L
Furopean tranquility than that Austrt;
and ItaIv should ha forced asunder. Ant
Vet this very thing may he in the stars
for the Austrian heir -ArChduke Fran
Ferdinand. is hrt"r foa ~ Veto
Emmanuel. and only recently the arTie
, of both countries were 0st"ntatouslv ma
nouverlng on either side of their frOntie
and actually within sight ~ each Othe
in the valley Of the AdiEe River. whic
rushrs down the vinNrlad foothills o
Southern Tyrol and past Verona To III
sea
1t is true that the status QUO. both i
p the Balkans and n Albania. IS %n7r2n
, tocd Iv an Austru-ItaIian understand
ing. hut the dislike Of the former by tn
Italians remains unchanged. and is III
I tensifcd by rhA persistence Of Vienna
0 CARRYING out tho AustrfvinG policy
To- the Trentino and Trieste, which ha
q cost her the Lomhardy and Nenetif
Q ! That Is the reason why Italy watche
= with Jealous eyes every move OF IN
Hapsburg In the near East.
The conflict Of interests and sentimer
between them has not yet been defnit
p and insistpnt enough to destroy. thoug
. II has undoubtedly weakened, the all
u ance while the alliance itself tends
assuage. or, at least restrain, the col
fIict. But for all that, the scheme
A Austro-ItaIian relations remains deli"a
3 and unstable. at the mercy ~ an irrit'
BILE public opinion, and liable TO be di