Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-06-17
THE NEW RED AND GREEN
BOOKS.

Austria has Just issued "red
book" and Italy green book rela-
tive to the causes of the war and
Ialy's participation In IT, Austria has
been as badly served by her diplo-
mats rs Germany. Her red book In
reply to ltaiys green book ls but n
drcary threshing over OF old straw.
Austria, in her latest official pro-
lLouncemeni, goes over again the al
legged causes for declaration of war
against scrbia Serbia was to be
punished, but her territorial integrity
was not to be disturbed by way of
diminution, statement that could
not be given serious credence IN view
OF the recent annexation Of Bosnia
and Herzegovina. The charge that
ftalys entrance into the war was
"monstrous' ingratltude for the pro-
lection given her for thirty years by
Austria and Germany. is the merest
impudence when we know how Italy
was brought into the triple alliance
ana held In Il against her will when
the alliance was renewed.
Italy entered into the war only
when the tide had set In the Carpa-
thians against Russia and when there
was real danger Of the triumph Of
the Teutonic monarches. The prom
lses of Austria and Germany We're not
credited not entitled to credit.
Treaties by them were shown TO be
mere scraps Of paper.
The opportunity to reclaim parts
of "unfedeemed italy was. of course,
consldcratlon--probably the great
est consideration In the minds OF the
Italian people. Also the opportunity
10 strike the hated historic enemy
and oppressor Of the Italian people
appealed to the popular imagination.
Italy hated Austria. not only because
OF Austrlas tyranncal rule, but be-
cause Austria, as an ally, constantly
nagged Italy.
These two considerations SO much
inflamed the italian people that they
might have overturned the throne,
had the government not finally ae-
quicsced in their desire,
But such acquiescencc was aided,
no doubt, by considerations appealing
more especially to the governing
! minds OF the statesmen and the king.
That the opportunity to take Austria
at disadvantage was not the CON
trolling consideration. is demonstrat-
ed by the fact that II was not seized
lat the moment Of Austrla's greatest
disadvantage. when the Russians had
mounted the Carpathian submits.
That was the strategic moment for
italy to strike, had opportunIsm gov
erned her policies
! But the king and his councillors
were reluctant They realized what
the frightful cost would he. They were
by no means confident of final vic
tory. The peru, that without their
aid the allies might he beaten, is
what probably determined them to
enter They entered after Maeken-
sens great victory over the Russians.
They feared Teutonic triumph, The
same fear is likely to operate com
pellingly with Rumania, Bulgaria and
Greece.
should Austria ana Germany win,
there would he no balance of power
in Europe by which the independence
of the smaller states could be main
fained A triumphant Austria would
expand 20 the Aegean sea a triumph
ant Germany would demand eeress
on the Mediterranean. and Lombardy
with the great port OF Genoa would
answer her purpose admirably par
tcularly since she would be as much
In control OF Constantnople and the
iDardanelles as Great Britain is now
in control OF Egypt
Moreover the profound instinct OF
italian civilization, the instinct Of
democracy as old as Flolence ana
Venice. finds itself arrayed against
the most formidable absolutlsm that
history shows