New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-20
The Basis of Italy's Policy in the
European War.


prominent italian statesman put It, this policy
islands on rock basis constituted by her lltalysI
fight for her reputation before the world and her
vital interests" That is pretty complete account
90 tho motives behind italian dipomscy-motives
which Germany failed TO take sufficiently into &C
count when she tried to tie up Italys fortunes
,rreyocably with those OF the other two members
of the Triple Alliance
The German Foreign Office always took ltaly's
connection with the Triple Alliance too light
heartedly. Count Won Buows testing epigram ABOUT
Italv,s relations TO her two allies has become his
torlcal. Back in 1902, when he was Imperial Chan
ceor. he said in the Rechstag "The Dreibund
does not exclude good relations on the part OF lts
members with the other powers do not con
slider r. iustiaed that recently a small section Of
the German press-I may say very small section
has manifested considerable uneasiness over
French advances TO Italy. In happy marriage
the husband must not Immediately get red IN the
tooo - his wife dances an innocent extra turn with
somebody else The main thing is that she doesn't
clone and she will not elope If she is best off
with him."
n was this sort Of overconhdence IN the theory
that Italy was only engaging in harmless nirta
tion with outside powers which wrecked the Triple
Alliance. Italy was not merely flirting She was
nursuing with intense seriousness the programme
which Rome now aptly describes "a fight for
her reputation before the world and her vital in
terests"
Italy was an interested and active member Of
the TrpIe Alliance in Crispis time because France
had annexed Tunis and seemed to stand in the way
OF Italian expansion the south shore OF the
Mediterranean Crispi welcomed an association
with Germany and Austria Hungary, those powers
having no ambitions in Northern Africa conflicting
with her own She was pleased with the Triple
Alliance because she felt better off inside it than
outside II. To keep her satisfied 1t should have
been the aim of German diplomacy to nurse the
irritation against France over Tunis and to hold
ont the hope Of a final acquisition by Italy Of all
that coveted part Of Africa lying nearest to Sicily
Rut the diplomats at Berlin did not take the
situation seriously enough. They did nothing to
meet the italian desire to acquire territory in
Northern Africa, and treated as mere extra
turn" the renewal Of friendly relations with
France on the basis Of Italian support for French
designs in Morocco and French support of ltaly'
designs against Turkey in Tripoi
Italvs seizure Of Tripon was a deadly blow
struck at the Triple Alliance. 1t set one partner
at odds with Turkey, the special protege of Ger
many. and aroused Austria Hungarys antagonist
on the ground that war with Turkey might lea'
n an Italian occupation OF Albania. Bernhard
complained in his book that shOrtsighted diplo
macy had permitted divorce of Italy's interest
from those of Germany and Austria Hungary. II
said that Germany. should have made war o
France rather than allow the annexation of Tuni
70 70 through Such war would in his Opinio
have given new lease Of life to the Triple Al
lance. He also denounced the folly of having pei
mtted Italy TO despoil Turkey with the open az
n proval of France and Great Britain.
" Although the Triple Alliance was renewed las
year, Italy's subscription to It did not create III
due confidence in Berlin and Vienna, since eve
there the truth was at last partially realized tina
Italy would pursue her aims and that thes
did not harmonic with those Of her partners Sh
had not actually "elOped' as Won Bulow put ii
but was ready to seek a separation if a European
crisis should come along. The results Of the Bal
kan war had estranged her more than ever iron
Austria Hungary and brought her national polio
more than ever into conformity with the plans o
the Triple Entente. Austria Hungary did not evei
consult her when preparing the overbearng ulti
matum TO Servia, because the Foreign Office II
Vienna knew perfectly we'll that it would get II,
diplomatic support from Rome for the harsh terms
sought to be imposed on Servia.
Italys national aims inclined it TO break def
inItely with the Triple Alliance and to seek the
continuing support of France and Great Britain
II the government at Rome keeps these national