His frequent visits to Brioni brought him into close touch with our navy.

He was always anxious to transform the Austrian Navy into one worthy of a Great Power.

In regard to foreign policy, the Archduke was always in favour of a Triple Alliance of the three Emperors.

The chief motive of this idea must have been that, in the three then apparently so powerful monarchs at Petersburg, Berlin and Vienna, he saw the strongest support against revolution, and wished thereby to build up a strong barrier against disorganisation.

He saw great danger to the friendly relations between Russia and ourselves in the rivalry between Vienna and Petersburg in the Balkans, and contrary to the reports that have been spread about him, he was rather a partisan than an opposer of Serbia.