ITALY & THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2701, 22 February 1916, Page 7

ITALY & THE WAR

SPEECH BY BARON SONNINO UNITY AMONGST THE ALLIES The following is the full text of the speccli delivered by Baron Scnuino, ■ Minister of Foreign Affairs, in. tho Italian Chamber of Deputies, on December 1, 1915: — "On May 23 the Government, fortified by the votes of Parliament and bv the solemn manifestations of (he country, on behalf of His Majesty the King, declared war against AustriaHungary. The reasons which determined this action are clearly shown b.V tho Green Book presented to Parliament a few days before, by the other doouments subsequently published and by the solemn speeches delivered during the past months by the Prime Millisier and by some of my colleagues. "As tho result of- the situation created by tho violation of the eisontial stipulations of the Triple Alliance on the part of Austria-Hungary, by her premeditated aggression against Serbia, well 'a-s the failure of the negotiations which, moved by the strong desire to spare tho country the calamities of a war, we endeavoured to conduct with her from December to Slay, it appeared urgently and imperatively necessary to provide by arms for the defence of our most vital interests of security and independence as well as the achievement of our fundamental national Aspirations.

"After our declaration of war against Austria-Hungary, Germany notified us that she would consider her civploniatio relations with Italy broken off.

"On August 20, we declared war against Turkey. The violations of the Treaty of Lausanne committed by that Government • ever since the tigniug of that Treaty are well known. The acts of hostility fomented and directed by Turkey against us in Lybin, the continual sending of officers and of arms into bur oolony, the failure to return prisoners, and, further the unjustifiable hindrances the departure of Consular functionaries, the unjust impositions against Italian citizens who sought to return home, the negotations patiently conducted up to the limit :'mposed by our dignity, are all circumstances already known, which, together with our desire to proceed in pcrfcct harmony of purpose with tie Allies in the Bajkan Peninsula and in the East, led ns to. our declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire.

"Italy has carried on in tho Balkans her traditional policy continued now during many' years, inspired by the principle of nationality and of the independence of tho Balkan copiesj our action was strongly directed to this end in full accord with the Allies. And in fact the peaceful assignment to Bulgaria, with large compensations assured to Serbia, of Macedonia, which had been given tocher by the treaty between the Ballfau States in IUI2, constituted the basis of political . accord sought by the Quadruple Entente. But, il the policy of the Quadruple Entente was directed to the union of the Balkan States, that of the Central Empires, on the other hand, fomented dissension and rivalry, and for this the ground on which they worked was ciily too favourable.

"The residuum of hatred and of vengeance left by the second Balkan war naturally furnished our enemies with effective instruments of action, of which, for the ends desired, the Allies were not able to take advantage. The work of diplomacy, moreover, waa able, to do very little in view of the psychological state of public • opinion, and of those Governments consequent on the military events.

"Their mentality became impressed by particular incidents, neglecting to appreciate the situation as a whole, and the certain confidence in the final victory of the Allies. The members of those Governments, preoccupicd solely with recent hatreds and with immediate reacquisitions, put. aside the greater and more vital considerations of tho politioal and • eoonomio independence of the nations. Bulgaria scorned the advantages offered by the Quadruple Entente, and instead turned her arms against Serbia, when she saw that gallant little nation assailed >vith enormous machinery of war by the united arms of the two Central Empires. "In these circumstances Italy's path was clearly marked out. We have declared war against Bulgaria in conjunction with the Allies, with whom we have been constantly united in the _ endeavours for a settlement. Thus, in the development of events, in tho common unanimous effort of diplomatic negotiations, in the unflinching struggle of arms carried on in the various theatres of war, the complete and admirable solidarity of tho Allies has been strengthened. "The effective contribution of the Italian arms to tho common cause is recognised by nil. From tho commencement of our war the. formidable pressure of tho Italian Army, rushing forward to the conquest of tho natural boundaries of Italy, hos been felt by the enemy. And 1 the efficacy of our military co-operation appeared moro manifest when, in September last, Austria found herself compelled to hurriedly transport considerable contingents towards the Alps from Galicia, whereby there was rendered' possible in that sector the victorious Russian ooun-ter-offensive. And this united work, carried on for several months, in war, as in negotiations, had persuaded us of the necessity if giving a publio and solemn attestation of the solidarity existing amongst the Allies, bv means of a common declaration' of the five Powers, renewing that agreed upou between France, England, and Russia on September 5, 1914, and in which Japan afterwards joined. "Theifornial act of our adhesion has already been- signed in London 'E qnesto fia suggel che ogni uomo egannj' (and this shall be an unanswerable sign by which every man may be undeceived). "The attitude of Greece has given rise to considerations and to controversies which for a time reached a certain tension, but the situation was fortunately soon cleared by means of an exchange of ■ notes, Greeco having consented without • difficulty to give the required' guarantees in harmony with her previous declarations of benevolent neutrality, so that there is every reason to hope, suspicion and distrust haying now been dissipated, the best relations of confidence. and cordiality will bo reestablished with tho Hellenic kingdom. "This will serve to satisfactorily facilitate and regulate every question bearing on the guarantees for the safety and the freedom of movement of the Allied troops as well at Salonika as its approaches, and the security of supplies by sea.

"The political .and economic independence of Serbia has always been one of tlio pivots of 'talian policy in the Balkans. It responds to a vital necessity of the very existence of Italy as a groat l-'owor. _ The political and economical absorption of Serbia by Austria-Hun-gary would represent «i grave and constant danger lo Italy, raising at thn same time an insuperable barrier to our economic expansion on tho opposite shore of tho Adriatic.

"Tho Green Bool; which T bad t'Ji honour to present to Parliament in May last makes known our action for tho defence of Serbia, even before our entry into the war. By agreement tvith our Allies ive regard as an indispensable aim this_ ivar the restoration of the heroic Scrbiari people to the plenitude of their independence.

"To-day the Serbian Arniv, under the weight of tho double agression, seeks a. " r wipft tatntHe tins sea. Tf«t.» withstanding the praiseworthy efforts

of. the Anglo-French corps landed at Salonika, Italy cannot remain indifferent to the appeal of anguish which oomes across the Adriatic. As soon as possible, therefore, wo. will do all in our power to give help to the army of King Peter, assuring, in accord wit.fi s the Allies, their provisioning and equipment, and facilitating their concentration, awaiting the -arrival of the moment when tlin light ivill be renewed. "The presence of our (lag on the opposite slioro of the Adriatic will serve alfo to reaffirm tlio traditional policy of Italy in regard to Albania, which represents now, as in the past, an interest of the first importance to lis, inasmuch as her destiny is intimately hound up with the settlement of the Adriatic. "It is. of the utmost importance to Italy, that the independence of the Albanian people, whoso distinct and ancicnt nationality was vainly, for interested designs, debated and denied, should be maintained. "For the reeonstihition of the natural frontiers, and for the conquest- of the gates of Italy, the valour or the Italian firms •is providing with tenacity and selfsacrifice, no less thnn with dash, and together with these we shall obtain the redemption of tho people of our race; who for long years have sustained an unequal straggle against tho underhand and persistent work of denationalisation pursued by the Austrian Government. "Tho strategic defenoe of the Adriatio constitutes another pivot of our political action. It is for Italy a necessity of life, an absolute necessity of legitimate defence, to obtain a settlement of the Adriatic which may compensate for.the unfavourable configuration of our eastern littoral.

"Finally the Government has grflatly at heart the jealous guardianship of cur vital Mediterranean , interests. When, about four years ago, the equilibrium of tho Western Mediterranean.was threatened, Italy was constrained to go to war for tlie Conquest of Lybia, nrd our people well understood its high political significance.

"And when there was brought into discussion ami rendered necessary the settlement, of the Eastern Mediterranean, ■ where the glorious history of our maritime republics has left indelible traces, and where flourishing Italian colonies expect that the mother country shall always keep high and unshaken her position and her prestige ae regards all other rival Powers, it was impossible for Italy to timidly stand alcof, and by her detachment submit to every exclusion and sanction every renunciation.

"Having thus indicated briefly the aims of the fierce and difficult struggle which our army sustained by the foivent trust of the entire nation, has. for ?ix months, strenuously waged beyond our borders, I close my speech by proclaiming once again that Italy is firmly resolved to bravely carry forward tne war with all her power and at the cost of any sacrifice, however great, .until the realisation of her sacred national aspirations, as well, as of those general conditions of independence, security, and mutual respect of the nations which alono. can form tho basis of a lasting peace, and which constitute also tho raison d'etre of the compact which equally binds ourselves and our Allies/'