The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-27
Weltpolitik and War

/
| That dangerous game played on the
chess board of diplomacy, which the
| Germans call ''weltpolitik,'' has
| brought about in the Europe of the
| last century scores of startling alli-
| ances and groupings of nations. The
| alignment of the countries engaged
| in the present struggle is proof that
I.weItpolitik, like the domestic variety
OF politics, makes strange bedfelloWS.
1t was SiXtY-two years ago today, on
March IT, 1854, that France declared
war on Russia, to be followed inme-
diately by a similar declaration from
Great Britain. In the long and bloody
Crimean war which followed France
and England were the allies of Tur-
key and the sworn foes of Russia.
The offensive and defensive alliance
between the London and Paris gov
ernments in that war marked the be-
ginning of new era in the relations
of the two countries, which for 50
many centuries had been enemies.
The blood of the martyrs of the Cri-
rnea was the seed of the Anglo French
entente cordia1e and alliance of the
although remaining aloof, strongly
syrnpathized with Russia The Aus
TRAN government, although it owed
it's very existence to the assistance of
the Russians a few years before, was
yet jealous of the growing power of
defeat of the Muscovites.
In the war between Prussia and
Denmark in 1864 the former had the
sympathy of Austria while the Dam.
ish cause was favored in England. In.
1859, when Austria attacked Pied
mont, the only independent and con-
stitutionaI italian state, the French
rallied to the assistance of the Pied
montese, and under Napoleon III, de-
cisively defeated the Austrians. IN
that war France and Piedmont had
the moral support of Great Britain.
" lille. Prussia and the southwestern
German states, fearful of the progress
of revolutionary ideas sided with Aus
tria and threatened war on France.
Prussfa's friendship for Austria, was
sh ort-lived, for in 1866 the two coun-
tries were at war. Great Britain,
France and Russia attempted TO meo.
late, but without avail. Most of the
German states sided with the Haps-
burgs against the Hohenzollerns. but
Prussia enlisted the aid of Itary,
which entered the was as Pruss1a's
ally on being promised Venetia as al
reward The sympathies of France lay
with Austia but Bismarck QUOTED
Napoleon with the promise of Luxen-
burg as reward for his neutrality-za
promise which was not kept.
In the Franco-Prussian war the
sym pathies of England, Russia, Aus
tria and Italy were with France. but
the speedy victories of the Prussians
made those nations unwilling to offer
aid to a lost cause
When Russia made war on Turkey
in 1877, it was without the consent
or approval of Great Britain or the
other powers. BY this war Bulgaria,
Serbia and Roumania attained their
independents, as did Montenegro, yet
Bulgaria is now an ally of the enc
mics of her benefactors.
In the years of comparative peace
which followed Bismarck tlabored
zealousIy to realize his ambition OF a
t'frieQdIess France" He formed al
liances with Austria and Italy, AND
sought the friendship of Russia. The
latter however, turned to her OLD |
enemy, France. The enmity between
Great Britain and Russia. continued |
longer, owing to the c1ashing of inter
ests in ASIA while France and Eng !
land were in conflict in Africa. At
length these differences were settled |
and the Triple Entente came into be-
ing. France and Italy also effected q |
with the result that
under the stress of war Italy with |
drew from. her German alliance and
made common cause with the Entente
a gainst her old enemy but quondanl
friend Austria.