The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-08-20
The Triple Entente
Great Britain, Russia and France Allied
For Joint Armed Action to Pro-
tect Common Interests

Inc QlUeTenCe an entente
and an alliance is said to resemble on
its face that between tweedledum and
tw~eedledee. but In fact it may be very
much more. An alliance may be just
20 much stronger than an entente, as
an entente Is stronger than no rela-
ton whatsoever. The triple entente at
present is q series Of dual understand
ings between three powers.
In fact. 1t 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 to 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 hat 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 a rule Of con.
cord and peace In the council Of ma.
tons"
The Entente's Rival.
The triple entente appears to have
Slt hbe ihOAh u NSottC VII Nv DdlL vi
England to check Russian and French
aggressiveness-that Is to say. by ally.
ing itself with these two powers and
securing a balance Of power In the
entente 1t. might be able to hold it's CO
partners within bounds. For instance,
In any quarrel in which either France
Dr Russia. or both combined. might
engage. England would not consider IL.
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 as
a whole may take. or that the indt
vidual powers to the agreement may
take In n crisis like that OF n quarrel
between a member OF the triple all.
ance and a petty power. In usually q
matter for slow deliberatton
However. In any even the attitude
Of the w combinations. the triple
alliance and the triple entente. toward
each other. In n crisis makes impor.
tant the relative strength ~ each, II
Ii estimated thnf fbe war footing Of
the triple alliance thpf II. Austria.
Germany. Italy -is s,,pUryD men IN
round numbers To offset lbis mill
tary strength ~ fbe nations which
Austria may caiI "a her assists prs In
case of aggression b, ans DBs ~ the