The Irish standard., 1914-08-08
THE CRISIS IN EUROPE.

THE CRISIS IN EUROPE.
The present war crisis In Europe,
the most serious and threatening
that has happened since the days of
Napoleon, has during the past week
commanded the attention of the en-
tire world, although the cause which
brought about the trouble seems of
a minor nature, growing out of Aus
tria's demand upon Servia for the
suppression of certain patriotic soci-
cites which Austria claims were re-
sponsible for the assassination of
the heir to the throne of Austria, an
analysis of the crisis shows that this
trouble was incidental to the real
cauase of the war. A triple alliance
between Germany, Austria-Hungary,
and Italy, was formed in 1882 and
was renewed in 1912. 1t was mas
terpiece of German diplomacy. 1t
was natural that Germany should
unite with Austria rather than with
Russia because such an alliance
would favor the racial interests of
the Teutonic people of Europe, not
only this but it would be blow
against the growing PanSlavism
which was so dear to the heart of
Russia. Germany under understood
the threatened aspect of Servian as
cendancy, not only against Austria
but against Germany as we'll, and In
the condition of the disgruntled Slav
may be found the real beginning of
the trouble. Germany has been and
is now using Austria as a bulwark
against the Slavs. not only in south
ern Europe but on the border of
Germany where the Slavs are neigh
bors on the east. Italy was drawn
into the alliance in 1882 shortly af-
ter the French invasion of Italy
which has aroused the Italian people
to such pitch of excitement and bit
terness against France that for mo-
ment they forgot their ancient ill
feeling toward Austria. The i'll will
manifested toward France by Italy
lasted till 1899, when new treaties
were formed with France, and as
a result Italy's interest in the Aus
trian-German alliance deprecated
greatly. Italy desires to include the
Italian speaking people in Austrian
territory and the probable expansion
of Austria along the Asiatic brought
on GOODNESS between Italy and Aus
tria. Later, when Germany de-
nounced Italys expedition into
Tripoli, Italy was denounced as a
tickle ally. BY the terms of the
treaty between Italy and Austria
friendly neutrality was assured
should Austria be attacked by Rus
STA and by Austria should Italy be
attacked by France. From this it
is easy to understand Italy's cool
ness in entering as an ally with Aus
tria and Germany. On the other
hand, the alliances between Great
Britain and Russia and France was
completed in 1907 and was the i'm
mediate result of the growth of Ger
man naval power, which caused
great anxiety in England. The
agreement between England and
France was made in 1904 when Eng
land recognized the claim of France
in Morocco and France in return
agreed not to fortify the shore OPP
posite Gibraltar. The treaty between
England and France was, in point
of fact, an alliance against Germany,
who has steadily grown to be looked
upon as the common enemy of both
countries. The agreement between
England and Russia practically
wiped out a long standing hostility
existing between the two countries
because of their clash of interest in
Persia. The two different alliances,
including the six foremost countries
of Europe have been entered into be-
cause of the common interest of the
parties concerned and with an eye
to the future safety, maintenance
of power and defensive strength in
case of aggression. OF all the coun-
tries concerned France entertains
the greatest bitterness. This bitter
ness has its origin in two sources:
first as against Germany because Of
the crushing and humiliating defeat
that was suffered by France in 1871
in the Franco-Prussian war. The
second is factional bitterness
against the party in power and
against the Republic for having &C
cepted such humiliating terms of
peace. One billion dollars. the loss
of Alsace Lorraine, and the quarter
ing of German troops upon French
soil until the debt was paid, was a
bitter dose. This has caused France
to patiently bide her time and wait
for a chance to strike. The enthusi-