On Thursday the Emperor received the Delegates in audience. The
speeches of the Delegates, of the Emperor, and of the Foreign Minister were not of very great moment, but two facts are worth recording. The President of the Austrian Delegation, Herr Glombinaki, who is a Pole, only accepted the Presidency on condition that he should not be required to chant a paean in praise of the Triple Alliance. His speech therefore showed no reflection of "the shining armour" of which the Kaiser boasted. Austria's success in beating down Russian opposi- tion to her action in Bosnia and Herzegovina was attributed by him solely to the strength of Austria-Hungary's own right arm. The other remarkable incident was the way in which the Speech from the Throne emphasised the Alliance with Italy, mentioning her by name in a way not hitherto adopted at Vienna. That Italy is firm on the negative side of the Alliance for the preservation of peace we do not doubt for a moment, but we cannot think there is much desire in Rome to put on shining armour and rush to the assistance of Austria- , Hungary with the battle-cry : "Our beloved ally, right or wrong!" If there is, things have changed very greatly since the Racconigi meeting between the Tsar and the King of Italy.
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