Evening star., 1937-11-07
British people, was becoming

menace.
With Germany, in the triple alli-
ance, were Italy and Austria.
England had France as its friend
and thus started the entente-no al
lance, they will tell you: merely an
entente cordial. Then came Russia
into the fold.
That was blow to Germany. In
later years the intelligence depart
ments of several countries discovered
that William, the Kaiser, and Nicho-
las, Gar of all the Russias, had con-
trived to break up the entente. even
going so far as to draw up a treaty
between Germany and Russia which
was afterward pigeon-holed. Diplo-
macy, my lads, diplomacy
THE world moved along to its in
evitable war. The two Balkan wars
that preceded the World War were
merely warming-up processes. The
two capitals. Vienna and St. Peters,
burg, were working the wires, pulling
the marionettes. They controlled the
combatant forces in the Balkans. Bull
garia was the protege of Austria. Ser
bia was showed on by Russia. Even
then there was infinite danger of the
two great powers being drawn into the
combat-and the World War would
have been two years ahead of itself.
That was 1912.
When the Balkan difficulties righted
themselves, for the moment, the sur
face OF European affairs was smooth.
but there was still that smoldering
fire.
MANY times the World War was
averted. Diplomats were brush
ing up on their diplomacy. 1t was in
the early part of 1914 that Won Jagow.
German foreign secretary, told a COM
mittee OF the Reichstag that relations
between Germany and England were
In good shape. and he meant it.
"Yet, the diplomats knew what they
wanted, and they did not trust each
other, according to students of the
times; representatives of both sides.
THE treaty Of Bucharest had STOP
ped hostilities in the Balkans, true;
but 1t was never considered a COM
plete and permanent truce or set
tlement. Call it what you will.
Here is what our American Am
bassador at Constantinople, in May,
1914, is accredited with having heard
the Austrian Emperor say to his AM
bassador there: The Central Powers
cannot accept the treaty of Bucharest
as definitely settling the Balkan ques-
tion. Nothing but a general war can
bring about a suitable situation
"The Balkan question, according to
disinterested observers, will always be
the Balkan question.
These were the rumblings beneath
the surface. On top, Germany and
England had been negotiating, AMIGA
bly,, In regard to Asiatic Turkey and
Africa.
TT was only after the Bosnian
youth shot the Archduke, and after
the World War broke out, that the
causes Of the disquietude really be-
came known.
"On the eve of the great confiagra-
tion, Churchill said: Although the
foundations of peace among the great
powers have been strengthened, the
causes which might lead to a general
war have not been removed.
There has not been the slightest abate-
ment of naval and military prepara-
ton. On the contrary, we are wit
Messing this year Q914) increases Of
expenditure by the continental pow
ers beyond all previous experience.
The world is arming as it never armed
before. Every suggestion of arrest or
limitation has been brushed aside
A IL the powers were at it, build
ing battleship after bsttleship,
increasing their armies. England had
under construction In her shipyards