The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-22
Not Based on Permanent Bonds

Not Based on Permanent Bonds
Poitfcal alliances are not based ON
permanent race bonds, on permanent
communities of interest They are float
ing, Unstable groups based upon imme-
dlate advantage and on the hope OF
pfonts from success. In some cases, liz c
the case of France and Germany, old
natreds prevent a coming together; in
other cases alliance advantages over
come hatred, and there are power S
ready to Join any side which offers
them profit. Three months ago Itaiy
was In the Austro- German camp: at the
! beginning of the war she stood for
friendly neutrality; and she was ready
10 persist IN this and to give Austria
passive help II Austria paid the price
AT present both groups of powers are
making offers to Roumania for military
help Roumania is cold bloodedly calcu-
lating which she will help, being guided
by the fact that the Germans and Aus
TRANS promise her Russian Bessarabia i;
and the opponent offers her Austrian Bulk
oWlna and Austrian PENNSYLVANIA Rou-
mania cares for neither side: she only
cares for two factors; which promised
accession of territory is worth most, and
which side is most likely to be able to
deliver the goods. 1t is the same with
Bulgaria. The Turks are offering Bull
garia part of Thrace in exchange for neu-
trality, the entente is offering Bulgaria
part OF Macedonia Bulgaria hates Servia
who robbed her of the fruits of victory
in 1913, but she will join Seryia If the
price offered is high enough, and If the
payment looks secured. These outside
powers are delaying because they want
bigger offers from both sides, and because
by waiting they think they will see which
side is going to win.
Alliances on such a basis cannot resist
fhn trnf, Of
strain of making peace. The division of
the spoil and the division of the bur-
dens and sacrifices of defeat are too
grevous tasks. Already the war strain
is hard. Servia and Montenegro are in
the same group with Italy, but they and
Italy are no way pleased with one an
other, they want Albania and Slav Dali
malta, and Italy wants Albania because
it is one lip of the Adrlatic and also
Dalmatia because there is a sprinking Of
Italians on the coast. Already Italy and
Servia are deep in a press feud The
Serbs and Montenegrns will not delay.
The Montenegrins are marching on Sku-
taria, Albania's chief town, which Italy
and Austria prevented them getting in
1919; they have already seized the port
san Giovanni d Medua The Servians
are marching on Durazzo the port they
wanted in 1918. For the sake of these
ports the Serbs and Montenegrins have
suspended their war with Austria, and
are practically at war with Italy, who
is supposed to be fighting on their side
There is reason to believe that Austria
their nominal enemy, is behind them and
has promised to leave them in possession
if only they make trouble for Italy. As
the war is prolonged, more differences OF
interest of this nature must crop up.
Vast Possibilities of Conflict
In nf x-iat fz.. -
there vast possibilities of conflict
II is not likely that a homogeneous
state like Germany can be cut up. But
il the Austro German Turkish league
is beaten Turkey and Austria will make
matters worth fighting over. In rur-
key, Italy is at odds with France. Ii
the Slav parts of Austria, Russia, Italy,
Montenegro and Servia have all am
billions, If the other side WINS md
holds Poland, and Baltic provinces, and
part of Little Russia, it will not BE-
Easy to reconcile German and Austrian
interests. And how is Turkey to b.,
compen stated? If Germany and Austria
lose which will give up territory? If
the entente loses who will pay colonies
to Germany as the price of evacuation
of France and Belgium?
Such questions will lead to discord
in one camp or both. The Balkan war
IS precedent. Even the most solid
leagues fall asunder when the hour OF
liquidation of gains or losses comes
The Christian powers that took the
field against Turkey professed to be
very solid; they were at least united
in religion. They vowed eternal friend
ship. passion for self-sacrifice, and they
promised n permanent Balkan confed-
Grafton. Before six months were out
they were tearing at one another's
flesh. and each was sacretly begging
the Turk to give them support. This
is human nature. and alliance nature.
Alliances" said Bismarck. ARE not
made out of affections they are made
to secure each state its own selfish
aims, when they fail to secure that
they fall to pieces" The war OF Bull
garia against Greece and Servia and
the secession of Italy from the triple
alliance show that is true.
During the war. during the peace ne.
gotiations, and after the war. there will,
not be one factor making for harmony.
not one element to bring nearer the
United States of Europe There will be
ton of the old alliances into hating
unites. on the winning side there will.
be discomfort; each partner will swear
ii has done all the work and got little
CT the pay; and on the losing side each
partner will declare it was the other
partners fault. and they, not it, ought
to cede territory and pay the indem-
rity. When allies fall out they hate
much more than they hate the old foe
The Servians hated the Bulgarians