Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-08-06
The Triple Entente
Great Britain, Russia and France Allied
For Joint Armed Action to Pro
tect Common Interests

The difference between an entente
and an alliance Is said TO resemble on
its face that between tweedledum and
tweedledee. but in fact it may be very
much more. An alliance may be just
SO much stronger than an entente, as
an entente is stronger than no rela-
ton whatsoever. The triple entente at
present is a series of dual understand
ings between three powers.
In fact. it may be said OF all these
alliances between the great powers
that they are entered into with great
caution and a determination on the
part of the statesmen not to go too far.
not to commit themselves TO alliances
which may entangle them in broils
with nations with which they really
have no quarrel. An instance OF this
caution is found in the so called en-
trance of Great Britain In 1907 in the
sphere of the triple alliance. Friend
ship between Italy, a party to the
triple alliance, and England Is tradi-
tional. The triple alliance was alleged
TO be hostile &c Great Britain, yet Italy
could but feel that in some spheres
she had, with respect to Great Britain,
a common policy.
While this was for some time a mere
understanding. it was OF such impor-
lance that Lord Lansdowne said on one
occasion in the house Of lords. IF
the status quo in the Mediterranean
should be disturbed, this country might
find itself acting in cooperation with
Italy" The bearing Of that remark
upon the Italian relations with Ger
many and Austria, the other two
parties TO the triple alliance, was made
plain by the Italian prime minister In
1906, when he said that Cordially
faithful to the triple alliance we shall
maintain our traditional intimacy with
Great Britain and our sincere friend
ship with France, thus continuing the
policy which In carefully fostering the
harmony OF international relations,
permits us to exercise rule OF con-
cord and peace In the cou-cil of ma
tons"
The Entente's Rival.
The triple entente appears to have
sprung from a desire on the part OF
England to check Russian and French
aggressiveness-that Is to say, by ally
ing itself with these two powers and
securing balance OF power In the
entente Ii might be able to hold It's CO
partners within bounds. For instance.
In any quarrel In which either France
or Russia, or both combined, might
engage, England would not consider It.
self bound to join with them, but
would as a matter Of justice or policy
seek to restrain them. For this reason
the position that the triple entente az
a whole may take. or that the indi-
vidual powers to the agreement may
take I'm crisis like that OF quarrel
between a member Of the triple alii-
ance and a petty power. Is usually a
matter for slow deliberation.
However. In any event the attitude
Of the two combinations. the triple
alliance and the triple entente. toward
each other. I'm a crisis makes impor-
tant the relative strength Of each. II
Is estimated that the war footing OF
the triple alliance-that Is, Austria,
Germany. Ialy--is S.GO0OOO men In
round numbers. To Offset this mill
tary strength OF the nations which
Austria may cat 10 her assistance In
case OF aggression by any one OF the