The Washington times., 1915-03-27
THE DIPLOMATS AT WORK

If the world could know as much
about the doings of the European
diplomats and foreign offices, these
days, as it does about the operations
of the armies in the field, it would
probably realize that the conversa-
tions of premiers and ambassadors,
emperors and finance ministers, are
contributing as much toward bring
ing the struggle in sight of its end
as are the generals and the troops.
There is on every hand evidence that
the war is entering upon a new
phase, in which it is destined to be a
vet more huge and destructive
struggle.
Italy is nominally yet neutral; but
she is maintaining her neutrality in
a fashion that makes her about half
as useful to the allies as if she were
actually at war. For she is holding
a great army in readiness, and in
the most threatening posture, for a
descent upon the Austrian territories
about the head of the Adriatic, and
Austria is compelled to keep great
force at hand as guarantee against
such a move. The German govern
ment has sent an emissary to Rome
in the effort to convince Italy that
her interests may best be conserved
by continuing at peace. Pressure
has been brought to bear by Berlin
upon Vienna in the hope of getting
Austria to cede the lost provinces
back to Italy. 1t is reasonably ap-
parent that Italy has persisted in the
hope that she might get what she
wanted without actually drawing the
sword; but there would seem to be
little hope, for Austria appears de-
termined not to make the cession Of
territory that is demanded. More
pressure will have to be applied be-
fore such adjustments can be made.
Germany might we'll compensate
Austria by giving her slice of Ba-
varia, which indeed from the time of
Frederick the Great Austria has con-
sidered to be her right, much as Italy
claims the Trentino. But Germany
in turn, is not much inclined to sur
render her territory while she is still
occupying the lands of her enemy
countries. She is prepared to make
this the ground of her most insis-
tent claim to an advantageous peace
Greece, Bulgaria, and Roumania
have been powerfully moved to get
into the conflict, in view of the fall
of Peremysl and the tremendous at.
tacks on the Dardanelles. They al
want to land with the winners, tc
be insured their share of the ad'
vantages from the distribution of the
Turks heritage. What will become
of Constantinople is not yet to bt
decided; it is a case of first catch
your hare; but the hare seems al
most certain to be taken. After
that we shall learn what sort o.
understanding there was among thu
allies before the war actually began
whether it went to the extent o,
parceling out the spoils in contempla
ton. Also, we shall learn whether
the allies in this case are destined tt
be more successful in dividing tn,
gains than were the Balkan state
after they had defeated the Turk
in the conflict that was the real pre-
lude to the world-confagration.
All these details of the situation
are receiving the attention of tn
diplomatic agencies of the variou
governments. 1t is even reporte,
that the Kaiser made a secret visi
to Vienna to discuss territorial con
cessions with the Emperor. Will
this rumor will be accepted with lib
eral allowances, it is safe to CUES
that some very direct exchange
have been taking place between tn
; allied Emperors; for the situation i
, getting critical in many ways. Tn
{ diplomats have never faced so com
pleX a position at such a stage of
conflict. 1t seems certain that un
less the end is forced very soon, tn
l war must spread widely. The Gel
man attitude toward neutral ship
2 ping is arousing new hostilities j
: the northern states which yet re
D main neutral.
In short, two campaigns are gc
ing on side by side; one waged b
Z; the men in arms, the other by tn
r diplomats. If the diplomats fail
= engineering concessions that wi
= prevent the wars spread, the
:, spread it must; and if it does, tn
e coming spring and summer can
| naiUn will he on a vastly 0raatf