Even if the Turkish Government thought a struggle hopeless and
abandoned the attempt to hold Tripoli, they might deter. mine to pull the whole fabric, of European stability to pieces. This they could do by seizing Greek territory. Such an act would be the signal for all the Balkan peoples to stand to arms, and no one knows what might follow. The Turks, we may be sure, will not be pushed out of their empire piece by piece without knowing the reason why. As for Italy, her troubles in Tripoli might outlast by years an official Turkish resistance. When Bosnia was handed over to Austria- Hungary by the Treaty of Berlin, the Austrians had to sup- press a protracted rising against their rule, in spite of the fact that they had the formal sanction of the Sultan. The past history of Italy in relation to Turkey in no way prepared Europe for the present crisis. When the Treaty of Berlin was being negotiated, Beaconsfield and Bismarck offered Italy the island of Mytilene, Tunis, and Tripoli. Italy declined, saying through her representative, if tradition speaks truly, that she desired to keep her hands " unsoiled." In 1881, again, she would not take the action in Egypt which was suggested to her. Even in 1899 Italy did not object when Great Britain and France absorbed the hinterland of Tripoli.
