The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27
nv ALEXANDER KONTA.

20 many spontaneous experts are
engaged in expounding Euro
~ pean politics to us; they are so
Cocksure OF the rights and
wrongs OF this war, prudcntly not VEN
turing beyond the Austro-Hungarian
ultimatum to Servia and the violation
OF Belgian neutrality; there is so much
vague but wild talk of Nietzsche and
Bernhard and Treitschke with
Clsusewitz haphazsrdly drawn in for
mistaken decorative effect: the name Of
Bismarck is so handy as a final argyll
ment that II seems for the moment
altogether vain to present, in however
moderate a manner another viewpoint
OF the most complicated and deliber-
stely most befogged crisis in the
worlds history. But now that an Ital-
ian diplomat has declared that Austria
Hungary contemplated war upon Ser
via as early as 1918 as the only means
Of putting an end 90 an intolerabe
condition of conspiracy and plotted
murder in her own dom!nions and
since this Italian diplomats statement
has Enthusiastically been twisted into still
another proof of Austria Hungary's
and Germany's guilt It may not he
smiss to look for a moment into tho
questions Of Italy's own present atti-
tude. the prospect ~ her course in the
immediate future and the side on which
her true interests lie.
The history OF united italy in Europe
and in world politics strikingly resem-
bles that OF the German Empire Both
came into being in 1870, which means
that both entered the circle OF the grea.
Powers too late TO begin their careers
a..
Of Germany is so well known that I
need only briefly refer here 10 its rapid
development in prosperity and strength
and numbers until the preemption OF
the choice places OF the earth's sur
face began to cramp its further prog
ress. II needed more room, none was
10 be had, and its attempts at COLOMBIA
ton were watched with the same envy
and dislike that witnessed the gigant.c
flight OF It's commerce and industries
] hope that I may be permitted 10 re-
can here what seems TO have been en-
tircly forgotten in this hour OF heated
partisanship and rancor, the growing
jealousy OF England. her increasing fear
for her own supremacy and the con-
sequent efforts OF Edward VII,
crowned with appalling success after
his death. to isolate Germany in a ring
o. openly antagonistic m!litarlsms. This
new great Power had upset an age
long political arrangement; II also
pushed its Irresistible way into q
smoothly working division OF extra F.u-
ropean territory. 1t sharpencd COM
GisToiai and Industrial competition 10
an uncomfortable degree. There was
really no room for 1t IN long estab-
lished system Of European Powers. And
yet there II was. Ana Il was danger
Gus 10 attack.
The case OF Italy never grew go
Serious because that country had 10 be-
gin anew from the very foundations
She had 20 set her own house in order
first. financially, Internationally. eco
nomcally. She was kept so busy al
home that she can hardly be said to
have had a continued foreign policy
until after the Berlin congress by
that time she had her internal affairs
IN working order 20 sufficient de-
gree TO find time for a look around her
sbroad. She took stock OF her inter-
national position and found II 10 be the
same as Germanys in kind 4 not in
degree. Europe had managed los af-
fairs so long without her that there
really appeared to be nothing left for
her 70 manage. There was really no
room for her in the Old system OF Eu-
ropean Powers. BY right Of her posi-
ton and interests she should he the
predominant Power in the Med.terra-