The King and Queen of Italy arrived in Paris on
Wednesday, and received a great reception, it being specially noted that Madame Loubet, at the request of the Queen, accompanied her husband. The toasts at the sub- sequent dinner were unusually warm, the President speaking of the "close accord" established between the two Govern- ments; and the King replying that he "saw in his welcome something more than a simple manifestation of the exquisite politeness " which distinguished France,—viz., a " natural result of the happy rapprochement between the two countries." The interests of Italy inclined her to peace, and her senti- ments were shared by France. The two countries, for the present at least, are drawn together, and as they can act, especially in the Near East, in agreement with Great Britain, this " drawing together " greatly facilitates a new, though informal, Triple Alliance, which, at least in the Mediterranean, would be very strong. We note a certain jealousy of this result in Germany, and a half-veiled threat in Russia that it may result in a renewal of the old alliance of the Three Emperors. Things scarcely advance so rapidly as all that, but the bonds which bind Italy to Germany and Austria are perceptibly loosening.
