Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-21
A New Triple Alliance?

Something bearing on it's face strong
resemblance to the old Triple Alliance
is apparently under discussion among
the parties to that former compact
Germany, Italy and Austria, with Hun
gary figuring in the deal as a more or
less silent partner. Berlin, Rome and
Vienna unite in discounting reports that
anything so formal or formidable as the
pre-1914 pact of alliance is in the wind,
but that exchanges are in progress des-
tined eventually to produce important
new European alignments is not seri-
ously to be doubted. Recent converse
tons held by Italian Undersecretary of
Foreign Affairs Suvich with Austrian
Foreign Minister Berger Waldenegg and
Germanys Rome Ambassador, DR.. Won
Eassell, circumstantially support the
view that matters of extraordinary mo-
ment are under consideration.
These are understood mainly to in
clude Cd mutual reduction of tariffs
between Germany and Austria; ~ Ger
man guarantee of Austrian independ-
ence, of which Italy has hitherto been
the guardian. and go Italian acquies-
cence in free development of pan-Ger-
manism in Austria so long as it does
not impair Austrian sovereignty. While
these relatively innocuous conditions
may be the publicly admitted purpose
of a proposed man-Austrian-Italian
entente, its underlying objective and i'm
plications, it goes without saying, would
be of much wider import.
Mussolini and Hitler share one gnaw-
ing ambition. Each is bent upon colonial
expansion. The Fascists crave more
domain in Africa in the face of Anglo
French opposition, while Germanys de-
mands for restoration of her colonies
on the dark continent are again being
pressed with vigor and in the teeth of
the same hostility Italy confronts. II
Duce has stood unflinchinglv against
Nazi encroachment upon Austria either
through anschluss (union) or by polit
ical boring from within the decrepit
Hapsburg state. The proximity of re-
created German military power on
Italy's Tyrolean border is one that the
Italians view with undisguised alarm.
Mussolini clearly reckons that by as
senting to conditional propagation of
pan Germanism" in Austria he can not
only safeguard himself against the Nazi
peril at the Bremen Pass, but be assured
of German support in prosecution of his
colonial claims. Hitler, on his part,
would, of course, welcome Fascist back
ing when the time comes for the Nazis
to insist upon their place in the African
sun. It was Italys colonial differences
with France and Great Britain over
Tunis that drove her into the original
Triple Alliance in 1882. 1t would be
logical if similar motives impelled Mus
solini to banker for revived partner
ship with Germany and Austria now.
When the Ethiopian war has to
be liquidated, along with Mussolini's con-
flict with the League of Nations, Euro
pean political and military relationships
are inevitably headed for drastic re-
adjustment. Because of this virtual
certainty it may safely be taken for
granted that there is far more to current
German italian Austrian negotiations
than the interested governments at the
moment find it feasible to acknowledge
That they are exploring future con-
tingencies from the background of pres
ent-hour movements and menaces on
the European and African chess boards
seems probability altogether likely to
be borne out by concrete developments
in not too distant days.