The Dominion. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1915. THE POSITION OF ITALY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2356, 12 January 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1915. THE POSITION OF ITALY

Whatever the immediate outcome may be of Italy's dispute with Turkey over the Hodeida incident, and with Austria over the occupation of Valona, there can be no doubt that circumstances are conspiring to force , her into the camp of the Triple \ Entente. It is true that Italy at the moment is in a position of freedom to choose her own course rarely enjoyed by a nation of her standing in a Continent at war. Her resolute refusal to make- common cause with Germany and Austria is not likely to lead to any immediately unpleasant _ consequences, for"' 1 both these nations are too fully engaged at present to lightly approach the task of . bringing their former ally to book. On the other hand, the Entente: Powers have imposed no pressure on Italy to secure her cooperation, though they would undoubtedly value it highly. Probably if Italy elects to remain neutral throughout the war no serious attempt will be made by the Entente to contest her decision, and while the Germanic nations no , doubt are eager to secure Italian aid, it is not_ likely that they will be in a position to enforce it. But although Italy has up to the present time held carefully aloof from the tremendous conflict now raging in Europe there are indications, of which the occupation of Valona is one of the most striking, that she .is not minded to sit aside with folded hands while the, map of Europe is being remade, but contemplates a more enterprising policy, and one which will make better provision for her national future. The incentive to adopt'such a policy is plain enough. Italy finds herself in the position of .having to choose between a bold bid for the position and standing of a great and independent Power and .supine acceptance of a much less secure and dignified place among the European nations._ The occupation of Valona is no' disinterested excursion on behalf of a small and turbulent ■, nation,, troubled .by the disorders of infancy. Recognition of the duty of protecting Italian and other foreign interests in Albania no doubt furnished the initial motive for the occupation, but it represents also the working out of a policy, to which Italy has been committed for many years past, that of gaining a firm foothold on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.

Modern Italy ib under the Bame necessity as ware the Roman and Venetian Republics in bygone years of mastering and dominating the Adriatic. The eastern coast of Italy is flat and. exposed, and there is no good harbour south of Venice, but on the other side of the Adriatic there is a succession of splendid natural harbours. Of these the most important are Trieste, Pola, and Cattaro, in Austrian hands.Fiume, belonging to Hungary, and Valona, on the coast of Albania, which Italy has now occupied. To Italy a firm foothold on this harbour-indented coast represents military and com-mercial-strength; failure to obtain such a foothold would mean permanent weakness and hampered development. Accepting the occupation of Valona as a first step in the assertion of Italian claims where the eastern seaboard of the Adriatic is concerned, it is obvious that Italy has everything to_ hope from the Entente and nothing to hope from her former allies. Austria, instead of sympathising with her aims, is her principal rival on the Adriatic, and in addition is the present possessor of Adriatic ports and neighbouring territories, Trieste among ,the number, which are largely peopled by Italians, and which Italy probably hopes one day to make her own. Even if Austria did not stand directly opposed to her Adriatic ambitions, Italy mus.t still look to the support and approval of t'he Entente to enable her to give effect to these ambitions. Thero is no suggestion that_ Italy is to be bribed with the promise of this support, but the eastern coast of the Adriatic will necessarily be included in the general readjustment of national boundaries which must follow the war. Except in the highly im-' probable event of Austro-German victory, this settlement will be controlled by the Entente Powers, and naturally they will be bound to consider their Allies first and other countries afterwards. The fact that she is reported to have concluded an arrangement with Scrvia under which that country also will secure a port on the Adriatic suggests that Italy is fully alive to this aspect of the position, and that she will secure the natural expression and fulfilment of her. standing policy by throwing in her lot with tho Entente. It has to be recognised of course that Italy carries a ncavy burden of-economic and other responsibilities which tend in some degree to discourage a policy of enterprise, but her military preparation, the occupation of Valona, and her curt dismissal of the Austrian protest against that occupation, all go to show that she is inclined to adopt a bold course, though it may involve war with her former Allies and an alliance with, the Entente Powers.