It further appeared impossible to me not to pursue
a "Triple Alliance policy" in matters where the interests
of the allied powers touched each other. Had no

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354

such policy been pursued,' Italy would have been
driven entirely into line with the Entente in Oriental
questions, Austria would have been handed over to
the mercy of Russia, and the Triple Alliance would
thus have really gone to pieces. And we, too, would
have been unable, in the absence of any support, to
safeguard our interests in the Orient. Even Prince
Lichnowsky does not deny that we had there great
economic interests to represent. But today economic
interests are no longer to be separated from political
interests.
That St. Petersburg desired "the independence of
the Sultan" is an assertion that Prince Lichnowsky
will hardly be able to prove; it would contradict
every tradition of Russian policy. If we, furthermore,
had not had at our command the influence at Con-
stantinople established by Baron Marschall, it would
hardly have been possible for us to defend our eco-
nomic interests in Turkey in the desired way.
