New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-06

ways 10 the point, and fearlessly when
he allots praise or fixes responsibilities,
or points out MISUNDERSTANDING, pre-
tended or real, as in the question
Of priority Of mobilization between
Russia and Austria.
1t transpIres from this record that
Germany earnestly sought to preserve
peace, but disagreed as to the proper
diplomatic method 10 be employed, and
that England's hands were tied "by
the moral obligation arising out OF her
naval understanding with France" Mr.
Price does not venture upon the ire
sponsibe pastime OF fixing RESPONSE
bilities. He indicates, however, several
obscurities in the conduct of the nego-
tiations, among them some on which
Sir Edward Grey alone can throw
light. Summing up, he finds that
"the guardians of the peace of Europe
we're being daily frightened and
stampeded by fear and distrust Of each
other. or by anxiety for their own
prestige, until they were finally over
borne by the military party in each
country" We can study in his pages
with profit 1.-The work of the great
European diplomatists whose skill and
competence have Matched Arranged
don out of the Sarajevo egg"
A capital piece of work done with
supreme ability, a book for which its
author deserves the thanks of all
serious students Of the political
origins. remote and immediate, OF the
word war so far as they have been al
lowed TO reach US.
The collection Of Senator Tittoni's
speeches translated by Baron di San
Severino throws, it is true, no light on
Italy's present position or plans, but is
nevertheless of great value as a guide
post 10 his country's foreign policies
since the Congress of Berlin. A firm
believer in friendly relations with Eng
land, France and Russia, Senator Tit
toni yet put his faith in the Triple AL
lance. which, as a matter of fact,
served his country's interests supreme
" we'll while il lasted, in the Mediter-
ranean, but, above all else, in the
Balkans, where IL made possible a
r,Odus 1,ii,endi with Austria, curious
instance of the occasional clash OF ma
tional self-interest with national SEN
timent Even to-day, as was recently
pointed out in the Italian Parliament,
Italy's interests seem to lie with Aus
tris-Hungary and Germany rather than
with the Allies, two of whom have
turned the Mediterranean into An
Anglo French lake. leaving the king
dom but slender foothold on the
African continent, And as for Russia,
her unresisted predominance in the
Balkans would sooner or later put an
end 10 Italian aspirations IN Albania.
Il is worth while noting that Signor
Tittoni ascribes the Bosnia Herzego-
vinian affair with its portentous devel.
opments TO Besconsield, who engi-
neered this deal at the Congress Of
Berlin in accordance with what was
then the leading motive Of English
Lolicy the thwarting of Russia.
This Italian statesman. who has since
been Ambassador 20 London, and now
holds the same post III idTls, proves
Enthusiastically that his country acted
wisely when il Joined its allies OF yes
terday, and that from first TO last Il
received from the alliance benefits
which it could have obtained in no
other way, not only insurance against
war at reduced cost Of ornaments,
but an assurance of peace which en-
abled il to develop its internal affairs
at leisure and in safety. Signor Tit
toni's speeches also deal eXhaustively
with questions OF Italian emigration
and colonization.
Mr.. Jane dates his preface in Oc-
tober OF last year His book was writ
ten. therefore, under the influence of
the first proclamations OF the purely
altruistic aims Of the Allies, of their
assurance that this was war for civil
lization and democracy without Interior
purposes. The practical politics that
had caused it was forgotten; so was
the practical politics that will be con.