Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
Political Skies in Europe All
/ Clearing.
FRENCH LOAN TO AUSTRIA
Better Conditions Follow italian
Occupation Of Tripoli.
RUSSIA IN STARVATION'S GRIP
New Colonial Secretary in Germany.
Plans for the Colonization
Of the Kongo.
FRENCH LOAN TO AUSTRIA
RUSSIA IN STARVATTON'S GRIP

oEftLlN, January 1S. - The general
European political outlook is very bright:
brighter. indeed. than it has been for many
weeks The fact that the old Emperor
OF Austria has fully recovered from an
illness far more serious than Official re-
ports made it appear has been q source
| OF great relief to every statesman in
europe. and, with tho Morocco affair
| practically settled. German relations with
| france are quite cordial. with every pros-.
pect OF remaining SO. The powers Of tho
| triple alliance have, indeed. the very
best reasons for their apparent endeavors
to retain the good viii Of France, for
| they are all in need Of money, which
France alone is in position to supply.
| Austria has. indeed, already begun con-
f1dential negotiations for a loan OF $780,
| 100000. to be issued in France. and every
| body in Germany hopes that these nego-
| tiations may lead to a successful result
! for two very excellent reasons-in the
| first place. Austria would not have to
| turn to Germany for funds, and. then. 1t
| Is argued in Berlin that the thin end OF
| the wedge, having once been inserted. the
| way would be paved for the Introduction
| on the Paris bourse Of German stocks
| and shares. which had long been the ar
| dent desire Of fnanciers in the father
4
| land.
There IL another side to this affair,
however, which is secretly worrying
| German statesmen. and this is that, as
i Austria must raise money somehow, the
| French government may ask such guar
/ antees from the dual monarchy that 1t
| would in time be tempted to leave the
| triple alliance and enter the triple en-
tente. as Italy Is already known to be in
| clined to do. and Germany would then
again stand isolated. but the fear Of
such an event is made light Of In Ger
Reports from Vienna show that Aus
| TRAN diplomacy takes q very optimistic
view of the international situation. The
trouble with Russia will. it is thought
that the anarchy in China has passed the
| critical stage On the other side, the
war between Italy and Turkey is gener-
ally thought likely to last for some time.
but with the fear Of Italian action In
Europe practically eliminated the war
is looked upon as not likely to affect
any one outside the two countries them
selves
/ Italy Ameliorates Conditions.
Italy. which aroused the wrath Of the
whole European press by its drastic &C
ton against a set Of war correspondents
Of the ultra-modern school. who consider
l
duty. Is now beginning to convince all un-
biased parties that she had very good
reasons for her action. kilograms from
the theater Of war are. OF course. stin
subject to a very strict censorship, but
plenty Of reports are continually coming
to hand from conscientious war corre-
spondents in letters which have not in
any way been tempered with by tbs ltal-
ian authorities. and all these show that
though a war is being waged, which is
accompanied by much bloOdshed, the re-
suit of 1t must be cleaner and happier
surroundings to all residents Of Tripoli
and Cyrena ca.
Work, wages and food are already
everywhere obtainable where the Italian
law prevails and people no longer perish
rotten sheep. The lowly laboring men and
women throughout the wide region bound
ed by the shores between Egypt and
Tunis, SO lftteredO with the wrecks and
already and will be still more great gain
ers. Whatever there is Of hope and veal
in modern life and progress. Italy brings
to them with teeming hands.
The cost of war will, OF course. be q
heavy burden to a comparatively poor
country like Italy, and 1t was sheer, UNI
balanced optimism which some perfervid
Italians displayed to shout in the begin
ming that the war would not cost Italy a
single lire nor the life Of an Italian SOL
der. The official war estimates have
been grossly inaccurate and optimistic.
When it was maintained in the German
press that the war in TTipOli could not
be fought for less than million dollars
day the idea was ridiculed In Italy,
| where military officers maintained that
the cost would not exceed one-fourth OF
| that amount
Now even the authorities in Italy admit
that the expenses are about 500. more
day.
out any terrible strain upon her nfeblood
| or vigor-and she will be the richer and
the stronger in many ways. A few mil
lions or scores Of millions sunk in ex-
tending Italy into Tripods and getting her
enigrants and surplus p -'ulation planted
| to much nearer home. appears to be a
sound investment.
Russia in Grip Of Starvation.
| Russia is in the iron grip Of starvation.
a calamity greater even than the war
with Japan, and the czar, who really
| always has taken a sincere interest in
| the welfare OF hts people: Is reported to
be in despair, because he realizes his |
utter helplessnesS in face OF an event |
which is causing indescribable suffer- |
ings and which will leave the strength |
of Russia crippled for years to come
Millions Of rubles have been contributed |
by members OF the imperial family to |
relieve the suffering, but nobody knows |
how much Of this money has actually |
reached the starving.
Official reports show that public works |
have been set up in some $500 districts |
under the management Of retired non
commissioned officers and similar minor |
officials. But although huge sums OF
money have been spent. relief has reach |
ed only one-sixth OF those in need, and |
that amounting in all to three or four
rubles per head @1.5O--$2OO. Seeds for |
sowing have been bought. 600 hav-
ing been spent on this alone. but three
fourths Of the expenditure was pure
waste, as the seeds arrived too late.
Consequently the fields have either been
sown with inferior seeds or left un-
sOwn altogether.
It is only since December that we hear
Of orders being given for the direct sup
ply of food and medical assistance to
the sufferers. at least by parties OF the
official Red Cross.
At the same time all sorts Of difficult
ties are being put in the way OF private
volunteer organizations such as the Old
Free Economic Society or the Ptrogon
Medical organization, although their
SOUP kitchens have been working sue
cessfully from the beginning Of the dis
tress. and they enjoy the general con-