Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-10-29
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
TEXT DISCLOSED

Austro-H Hungarian Minister Is-
sues Red Book Explain
ing Alliance
Washington, Oct. 23.-Tle text OF
four articles of the secret Triple Al
lance, which, for 80. years, was in
force among Germany, Austria-Hun-
gary and Italy, is disclosed in a Red
Book issued today by the Austro.
Hungarian Ministry Of foreign affairs,
through tae embassy acre. The Red
Book deals with the negotiations re-
tween Austria-Hungay and Italy
which led up to Italy's de~nunciation
OF the Triple Alliance and her declare
ton of var on Austria+Hungary. IT
is made up for the most part Of letters
and kilograms exchanged between the
Austro Hungarian foreign Office and
the embassy in Rome, with a few
communications from German diplo-
mats. cine of these communications
charge Italy with having attempted
to ,blackmail Austria-H Hungary.
The Red Book discloses the fact
that before the outbreak of tle war
Italy told Austria aer course was like
ly to precipitate a European conflag-
ration; and also that Austria. before
taking the decisive step against Ser
bia, had received assurances from
Germany of ler support in case Rus
STA entered the war.
The articles from the Triple ALI
,ance are made public primarily with
reference to Austria's contention that
italy was not entitled to the te%rritori.
al compensation on which she insisted
in return for Austria's invasion of
Serbia, and surely not to "a slice OF
our own flesh" as this portion of
Austria demanded by Italy was char
iacterized. The text Of the article fol-
lows:
Austria Hungary and Italy, being
DESTROYS solely that the territorial
status quo in the Near East .be main
tanned as much as possible, pledge
themselves to exert their influence to-
prevent all territorial modification
which may prove detrimental to one
or t:ae other Of the powers sigaatory
to this treaty. To that end they shall
communicate to one another all such
information as may be suitable for
their mutual enlightenment, concern
ing their own dispositions as we'll as
those OF other powers. Should, ilow-
ever, the status quo in the regions OF
the Balkans, OF, of the Turkish coasts
and islands in the Adriatic and Aege.
an seas in the course OF events .bes-'
come impossible, and should Alstriar.
Hungary or Italy be placed under the
necessity, either by the action of q
third power or otherwise to modify
that status quo by a temporary or per.s
manent occupation on their part, sucll,
occupation shall take place only after
a previous agreement has been made
between the two powers, based ON the
principle Of reciprocal compensation
for all advantages, territorial n Qthi
erwise, which either Of them may ob!
tain beyond the present status quo, d
compensation which shall satisfy the
legitimate interests and aspirations of.
both parties"
In reference to 1taly's declaration Of
neutrality early In the eswar,aand her
contention that, under the Triple. al.
lance. she was not Gbtigated-tp assist.
Austria and Germany, the following
extracts from the treaty are given
cut:
Article III. IF one or two of the
high contracting parties should he at.
tackled without direct provocation on
taeir part, and be engaged in war
with two or several great powers not
signatory to this treaty, the casus
foederis shall apply simultaneously
to all tile high contracting parties" (.
ArticleI. The higi contracting
parties mutually promise peace. and
friendship, and shall not enter into
any alliance or engagement directed
against any n of their respective
states.
"Tiley bind themselves to proceed
to negotiations on such political and
economic questions of a general ma
ture as mny,} arise! and, moreover,
promise their, mutual support within
the scope of their own interests"
Article w. in the event that q
great power not signatory to this
treaty should menace the safety of
the states Of Sone&of the,high contract.
ing parties, and the the menaced par.
ty should be forced to make wal on
that party, the two others bind them
selves to observe toward their ally a
benevolent neutrality. Each n OF
them in that case reserved to herself
the right to participate in the war, II,
she should consider it appropriate to,
make common cause vita her ally"
On July 20, 1914, eight days before
Austria declared war on Serbia, Count
then AMstro-Hungarian for
eign minister. telegraphed to Kajetan
Mercy Won KaposIMere, then Austro-
Hungarian ambassador at Rome, That
the evidence in relation to tho assas.
sination of the Austrian crown prince
Francis Ferdinand las we'll as the Goa:
slant subversive Serbian a,gitatiOns
carried or for many years past, are
likely to compel us to assume a serf.
Gus attitude in Belgrade" He said
Italy should be informed that, slonld
peaceful means fail, the Vienna cabi-
net 'twOuld not think Of inausurating
a war of conquest or OF acquiring any
Serbian territory"
The Austrian ambassador tele
graphed to Count o Lerchtold on
w. m ~. 100 -