The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1911. THE POSITION OF ITALY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1264, 20 October 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1911. THE POSITION OF ITALY.

During recent years the condition of Italy and her position among European Powers navo undergono silent but certain changes. Internally, Italy is becoming more and more united: old rivalries are being forgotten: a consciousness of nationality pervades her people Her precise position among European Powers is less capable of a satisfactory diagnosis. To clearly understand the Italy of tho present, facts must not be forgotten concerning the Italy of the past. Lord Morley has depicted the situation in the Peninsula when the process of constructing an Italian Kingdom had just begun. Mazzini_ and Cavour were then directing in widely different ways, one the revolutionary movement of Young Italy, the other tho constitutional movement of the Italian Resurrection. Tho Resurrection entailed the building up of order out of confusion. Here is Lord Morley's picture of Italy in thoso days:_ "Tho scene presented brutal repression on the one hand; on the other a chaos of Republicans and Monarchists, unitarians and federalists, frenzied idealists and sedate economists, wild ultras and men of the sober middlo course." Cavour succeeded and Italy began her march towards nationhood and power. That march has been an arduous one. The financial position of tho country has been frequently far from flourishing there has been discontent, with regicide, within: Austria for half a century has been a far from friendly neighbour. Nor has Germany ever displayed much sympathy towards the young kingdom. The world is just now, by degrees, learning the exact nature and the full extent of numerous European intrigues. And thoro arc a good many more ripe for, and in need of, exposure. Some day, no doubt, the true history of the Triple Alliance will become known. That combination of Austria and Germany with Italy was not effected in the interests of Italy. Of that much, Europe has long been assured. Tho truth seems to bo that Italy was compelled, against her will, to become a member of the Triplicc. Germany and Austria aimed, probably in the first place, at keeping Italy and Franco_ apart_ and, afterwards, at preventing alliances with either Russia or Great Britain. It was the Marquis de Rudini who renewed Italy's adherence to the Triple Alliance in 1887, and his Life tells that ho was bitterly reproached in Italy for his act. A few years before his death ho replied to a question touching the Alliance: "What would you? We are forced to do it, as Germany had put a knife under our throats." Italy's economic relations with France were at this stage broken, the French Parliament having refused to ratify the proposed commercial treaty. On behalf of the Triple Alliance the claim is made that it has secured peace for Italy and tho other signatories. But it has been a troubled peace. Italy, however, in spite _ of immense difficulties, lias had time to develop her material resources alike economic and national. Everything in the meantime points to her occupying Tripoli. The decision to restrict warlike operations on land to North Africa is wise. Italy should, therefore, take virtual posj.«\v;ion nf.tbis srr.f.inn nf the KrXTAlc'fi

Dominions in at least a comparatively peaceful manner. That Turkey will seek satisfaction by invading Thcssaly is most unlikely. Turkey—that is, tho Young Turks— probably realise that an unprovoked assault upon Greece at the present juncture would be extremely impolitic. Such an act would only further embarrass the country itself, while possibly leading to intervention by some of the Powers in a direction different from that recontly desired by the Porte. From the purely military and naval points of view the fact is obvious that Italy could possibly have chosen no more suitable time for a successful descent upon Tripoli. * Tripoli would probably have been Italian territory a quarter of a century ago had Crispi's well-known policy not been diverted by the arguments of Depketis. 'When Ceispi became Premier of Italy in 1887 the Italian Government had just passed through a period of great perplexity. This circumstance, and others of greater interest, may bo gathered from any biography of the famous, hut flighty, Italian statesman, Francesco Crispi. Caieoli had been deceived by France—so Italians hold—concerning Tunis, and Maniciki, apparently to help repair the blunder committed when Italy refused Lord Granville's invitation to co-operate with Great Britain in Egypt, was looking for territory with which to counter-balance France's presence in North Africa. Crispi, remarks one biographer, in almost a light and airy manner, 'Vould havo opposed France in Tunis by any means, or taken Tripoli as compensation." The nation, it is recorded, would have supported Ceispi in seizing Tripoli, and the majority of the people thought that Italy should havo co-operated in Egypt. But the Red Sea Colony was decided upon, and the projects regarding Tripoli have since, to all outward appearances, been allowed to slumber. That Germany was using her influence with the Young Turks to obtain a footing in Tripoli we should scarcely consider probable. Germany has quite recently "leased" from Turkey the harbour of Alcxandretta, on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and i 3 to transform it into a fortified port and coaling station. Germany, further, must be little short of a nuisanco to Ministers in Constantinople by reason of her wants, a?r claims, and her pretensions in connection with tho Bagdad Railway. Then, N her prospective, or hoped-for slice, of Central Africa, as tho result of the Morocco tactics, should surely produce at least temporary appeasement. Of Crispi it is written: "His ideal of Italy was a great and powerful country, a country second to none, and by slating this, ho became popular and was much praised." Crispi is not forgotten in Italy; nor arc his opinions and his policies. King Victor Emmanuel and his Ministers have been long in taking decisive action in the direction he proposed. To all appearance their plans concerning Tripoli have been long maturing, and they moved only when assured of non-interference, and hence, of possession and success.