Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
THE POWERS And THE BALKANS

of the Car OF Russia and the King OF
Italy. that the King of Montenegro.
valiant member of the Balkan allies.
is the father-in-law OF Victor En-
manuel. and otherwise allied by mar
executed with Turkey the treaty. OF
Ouchy October IT, and Italy, which
was assumed to be on the side ~ the
kings father-in-law and with Russia be-
neither with the father-in-law nor with
Russia, but with the triplice.
There is some mystery even TO the dip
lomat by profession concerning Italys
singular policy.
Mystery in Italy. besides. had
ltalys Folcy. kans. Massini in 1871
urged the formation OF a Balkanc con-
federation whose capital should be Con-
stantinople. Crispi. in letter published
in April 1895. wrote: The Italian ma
tional party would like TO see formed
Balkanic confederation with Constants
nople for capital. Mussulmen could find
place in IL il they would live brothers
and not As masters But the car should
remain within his present limits and the
sultan should pass over into Asia
December 10 there was what was called
duo in the Italian chamber between
Deputy Barzilai and the minister of for
eign affairs, Signor de San Giuliano. The
republican deputy interpellated the min
lister or foreign affairs on the renewal Of
the triplice, which may be cited with in
terest because of its connection with the
Balkanic question.
Signor Barzilai renewed his often-re-
peated question: What good does the
triplice do for Italy? Nothing for her
Mediterranean interests because these are
protected by special agreements with
mediterranean powers. and which, on the
| contrary. are not comprised in the treaty
of the triple alliance: they do not serve
any more the Balkanic interests, for now
after the victories of the Balkanic states
over Turkey. the fear of a descent by
Austria in the Balkanic peninsula is dis
PEELED There is necessity, certainly for
Italy to protect the intangihility of Al
bania above all If Albania becomes au-
tonomous and is not Incorporated into
one of the Balkanic states hut that in
terest is limited for Italy. who may pro-
tect 1t by special agreement with Aus
tria as Italy has made with France and
England for Lydia. In fact. according to
Signor Barzilai the triplice has lost all
Its effect and ii imposes upon Italy more
obligations than 1t gives ADVANTAGES 1t
was not necessary to renew il. and il was
an error to renew just at the moment
when Austria seeks to draw from II A
greater force to menace Servia, from
whom Austria would take the fruit OF her
victories
1t was also an error to renew the
tripiice treaty without notifications.
| Italy should have exacted more guaran-
tees for her interests. less obligations and
| IN any case better treatment Of Italian
nationals i'm the Austro- Hungarian en-
| pire.
NJ. Barzilai provoked the plaulits OF
the entire chamber when he said that
during the war in Lydia
Italys War Germany and Austria took
in Lydia. mighty good care not to
without Doubt exclaimed the orator,
there were French ministers who ut
| tered words far beyond the Importance OF
the incident of two ships i'm litigation.
but there were also allied ministers who
| imposed upon Italy a limitation To the
war i'm the Tripolitan, Obliged Italy to
attack Turkey with velvet gloves and
thus prolonged the struggle during year.
| rendering ii more costly and bloody AMI
provoking finally that Balkan crisis which
. they maintained they wished to avoid.
Italy happily can boast that she received
no aid from any one and thus owes no
debt Of gratitude to any one
| Signor Barzilai launched many rocks at
Austria and recalled that Gen. Conrad
de Hoetzendorf, Italy's enemy. had been
recalled to the command Of the Austrian
| staff the morning after the renewal OF
the triple alliance treaty.
Signor BarZilai expressed himself as to
Albania: 1T is just that Italy should as
sure the neutrality on this question, pro-
vided that that neutrality does not sig
| nifty the abandonment of that region to
Austrian influences. 1t may be admitted
that Italian and Austrian interests con-
verge in Albania. hut they are COM
pletely opposed in the question Of the
Servfan port on the Adriatic, which
would he very hurtful to Austria but on
the contrary, most beneficial to Italy
| The orator strongly recommended to the
| government to watch carefully that in
| the triplice Italy was not made TO serve
| other interests than her own. 1t should
be borne in mind that Austria had ex-
| PEELED last year a thousand Italian citi-
zens. and excluded Italian workmen from
| Austrian industries. Italian public opin-
ion would not consent that the result of a
| long alliance was no more advantageous
! than that of policy of isolation. To
! those who may ask for such sacrifices
| he would reply in the words of Bismarck
| mo people should sacrifice the cause OF
| its proper existence on the altar OF fidelity
/ to a treaty
| We find the orator unfortunate in this
citation from Bismarck-never overscru-
/ pulous in his methods. In this case there
| is rank adhesion to the principles prac-
ticed by the notorious Florentine Machia-
velli, which detracts much from the force
4 OF the orators Interpolation.
Signor Marquis di San Giuiano replied at
| length. reciting Italy's progress during the
| thirty years of the existence of the triplice;
what the triplice could do for each OF its
members in the Balkanic question upon con-
/ dition that each ally was convinced that he
might command the support of the other
| as compensation of what the ally had
| done for the other. The savant orator
| touched upon the Albanian question the
| friendship of Russia. France and Eng
| land, and concluding. declared the triplice
to be the pivot of Italian policy.
| The Italian chamber which applauded
! vigorously the speech Of Signor Barzilai.
also appiauded
Russia's Attitude that of the minis