XXIV INTRODUCTION. 



would be folly, for it would mean a declaration of war to-morrow 

 which would involve the disruption of the entire world. Allans 

 t^est impossible! " / 



But to return to the Treaty for the safe-guarding of the Triple 

 Alliance. 



It is not defended by either Germany, or Austria, or Italy for the 

 purpose of enforcing the provisions of any international instrument, 

 such as the Treaty of Frankfort of 187 1, or the Treaty of Berlin 

 of 1878, or, to secure the settlement of any international difficulty, 

 such, for instance, as the sovereignty, or independence of any one of 

 the Balkan States, or to guarantee the annexation of Alsace and 

 Lorraine by Germany, in 1871, or to reverse the annexation of 

 Nice and Savoy by France, in 1859. 



No, not a sentence, or word, in this Treaty of the Triple Alliance 

 can be found referring to any one of these subjects, nor for " the 

 rectification of any frontier, nor the revision of any humiliating 

 Treaty," to justify or explain this offensive and defensive Alliance 

 of three mighty empires against Russia, and France, or both com- 

 bined, and the only explanation, for we can hardly call it a justifica- 

 tion, is to be found in the one word, " attack." 



" If one of the two Empires should be attacked by Russia," says 

 Clause I.; or "should one of the high contracting parties be attacked 

 by another Power, other than Russia," says Clause II. ; they would 

 consider an attack, says Clause III., a justification for a declaration 

 of war. 



In other words, it is the menacing armaments of Russia and 

 France, that fill the Triple Alliance with dismay and alarm, as it is 

 equally the menacing armaments of Germany, Austria, and Italy, 

 that bid defiance to, and that tempt an attack from Russia and 

 France. 



Now what is the military and financial position of the Great 

 European Powers, of Russia, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy ? 



At the present time, Russia has 2,392,327 men under arms, 

 echeloned on the frontiers of Germany, ^Austria, Turkey, and the 

 Balkan States, and, it is stated on good authority, that inclusive of 

 her mobilised European and Asiatic forces, Russia can place in the 

 field 6,000,000 of disciphned soldiers. Her Military Budget is 

 .;£43)S39,iii for her Army and Navy, and £\2,i^o,2,\o for the 

 interest of her National Debt — a total of ;^86,329,45i voted 

 annually for War. 



