Evening star., 1912-09-01
CONVENTION.

The storm clouds that have hovered
over Constantlnopie for some time have
drifted northwest and now
Menacing threaten to burst over vien-
u;. ma. The announcement OF a
Franco-Russian naval con-
vention. followed by the visit OF NJ. Ray
mond Poincare. the French premier. to
st. Petersburg are events that have con-
tributed largely to the fall in the political
barometers as indicated in the German
and Austro-Hungarian press.
The attitude Of the German press by its
persistent affirmation that the Franco
Russian alliance was not a bona fide and
effective alliance has had much to do
with provoking the visit to st. Peters
burg. II was necessary to reassure Eu-
ropean public opinion as well as public
opinion in France. NJ Poincare has ac-
complished tho visit and, following the
meeting OF the car and the kaiser at
Port Baltic. It Is both manifestation and
a lesson.
It appears that the visit Of the French
premier was decided upon when NJ Ko-
kovtzof, premier Of Russia, caused NJ.
Isvolski to say to NJ. Poincare: IF the
political situation should keep you In
France NJ. Kokovtzof will 60 to Paris"
1t was apparent to the Russian minister
for the good Of Europe as we'll ar their
own good that the Franco-Russian al
lance should be made practical and posi-
lively effective. The manifestation has
provoked a veritable howl OF discomfort
Hungary
The Neue Freie Presse OF Vienna echoes
the sentiment Of the Austrian press, and
II, as 1t appears. this journal has been Of
ncially Inspired. It Is important
~ the franco Russian convention ap-
piles to the Mediterranean, says the
Presse. It signifies that France has aban-
doned her policy touching the Oar
danelles In effect the Russian feet can
be OF no use to France IL the present
treaties relating to the Dardanelles re-
main IN vigor. But II the powers Of the
triple alliance have changed their point
Of view as to the straits they must ed
dress themselves to the signatories of
the treaty Of Berlin in order to modify
the status quo.
"The powers. and particularly Austria
Hungary" writes the Presse. will have
word to say on a question which
touches in the highest degree, not only
Turkey. but the whole Balkanfc penin
sula. Austria-Hungary will find herself
obliged to decide whether or not she
will not demand her entire freedom Of
action"
1t may be recalled just here as
memorandum that. following Austria's
violation Of the treaty Of
Pact OF Berlin in the annexation
1o1n Of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia swallowed that
bitter pill with all the philosophy posi-
BILE, but contracted a peace agreement
with Austria. This was in the spring OF
1910. The agreement could not be said
to be a formal peace pact but was more
in the nature Of modus vivendi.
Many things have occurred since 1910.
Russia first has been making giant
strides in the perfection OF her military
and naval resources with the view of re-
suming the situation lost In the north
Pacific and in Manchuria. In 1909 the
car met the King Of Italy at Racconig1.
There was rapprochement between itaiy
and Russia and between Italy and
France and later the 1talo-Turk-
ish war and the Italian occupation OF
the Tripolitan. No one doubts that RUS
sia is preparing the way toward the pa
cific opening Of the Straits OF the oar
danelles to her Black sea fleet. and the
consequent junction OF that fleet with
those Of France and Italy in the Mediter-
ranean. The signing of the naval con-
vention is an act of supreme impor-
tance. Russia proposes to reconstitute
an active fleet in the Baltic.
What with nia-Herzegovina on her
conscience, Austria may hesitate ioES
time before submitting her grievances TO
the signatories of the treaty OF Berlin,
because Of the proposed formation In the
Mediterranean.
Nor may Germany complain or this
changed situation logically The recent
augmentatiOn Of the German army is
distinct warning to the interested powers
that they must meet that augmentation
by all the means in their power. France
and Russia have found it best to Offset
Germany's augmentation by the naval
convention.
The Taeglische Rundschau is panger-
manist and writes: After the interview
at Potsdam it was officially declared that
Russia and Germany would never par
ticipate in a convention directed against
one or the other. All OF that is officially
false.
NOW they were told that the new
Franco-Russian convention was eminent
ly defensive" According to the journal
1t was the contrary that was true 1t
was not Franco-RuSSian convention, but
an Anglo-Franco-Russian convention, in
spired by the spirit of King Edward VII"
~
The Temps on the subject of the visit
Of the French premier says: 1T was
necessary to improve
FrancO-RuSSlan the solid instruments
r, which the two coun-
EVASoS 0oAneu' tries possessed to serve
objects that have not varied" OF course.
that means in simple language the crea-
ton of powerful force on land. on the
sea and in the air to insure the supremacy
of France and Russia and, 1t may be add
ed, likewise England and Italy. Italy has
come into the entente, which has borne
in turn the title of the 'duplice." triple
entente" but which may now be termed
the ''quadruplice.
The conclusion Of the naval treaty be-
tween France and Russia is not new
treaty, but simply the renewal OF a
treaty that dates from 1892.
The Franco-Russian alliance dates
from June %. 1891. and a military con-
vention was signed a year later. The
military convention Of 1892 stipulated an
annual exchange Of views and an actual
contact between the general STATS OF the
respective armies. These meetings were
strictly kept, but. singular to relate.
nothing was done to include the naval
forces.
Nor was the case SO singular as 1t ap-
pears. The Russian navy, 1t is recalled,
had met with a great disaster at Tshu- I,
shima and for fact the Russian navy