5 JULY 1902, Page 9

The Treaties which formulate the terms of the Triple Alliance

were formally renewed at Berlin on Saturday, June 28th, by Count von Billow and the Austrian and Italian AnxbassadOrs. The terms remain unchanged, and the new Treaties are to last for twelve more years. The precise stipulations remain , un- known ; but it is well understood that the Treaty is defensive, and binds the three Powers to resist the invasion of any one of them by France and Russia. As we have pointed out else- where, the Alliance is disliked by the Agrarians in Germany, by the Slays in Austria, and by the Francophiles in Italy, but is in each country considered necessary by the Government, and by the chiefs of all great parties. It is believed in many quarters that the renewal has been preceded by mutual -cen- cessions on economic subjects; but there is no evidence of the fact, and it is more probable that each Power has been left free, as before, to make such commercial arrangements as it can. The renewal is a somewhat severe blow to the Vatican, as it renders the restoration of the temporal power within the term of the Treaty nearly impossible. As the Alliance has now lasted nineteen years, the three Governments must have full experience of its working, and their continued approval will weigh more with sensible men than the rather vague opposition offered by parties which, like the Clerical, do not at heart desire peace.