The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1916. THE ITALIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2795, 13 June 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1916. THE ITALIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

The information at present available regarding the Cabinet crisis in Italy leaves the position somewhat obseurc. The outstanding facts are that the Chamber has refused to express confidence in the Government; that the Prime Minis-' tcr (Siqnok Salandra) has resignedand that all parties agreo that the war must be conducted more vigorously and in closer union with tho Allies. The reason's given for the "technical defeat" of tho Government do not provide a very full explanation of the development of ,events. , We are told that tho crisis is the culmination of longwhispered complaints of lukewarmliess in waging the war, and of the •aloofness of tho Government from Parliament and' people. This feeling of dissatisfaction, combined with tho military situation, appears to have been made use of with the object of creating a demand for tho formation of ; a National Government. It is asserted that Signor Salandra was not forced to resign. He might ha ve_ extended his Ministry by taking in representatives of other parties, but he preferred to relinquish office in order that King victor Emmanuel might be quite free to reconstruct the Government on a national basis. Tho demand' for a National Cabinet is not at all surprising. During tho progress of the war National Ministries have been called into existence in Britain and l l ranee, and there have been sevoral, changes in tho personnel of the Eussian Ministry. The change in each case has-been due, not to war weariness, but to war willingness—to the desire of tho people for greater effort and increased energy on tho part of the Government. ■ For some 'timo past there have' been murmurs "of dissatisfaction in Italv regarding the Government's war policy, and the great Austrian offensive has evidently given a powerful 'W™ vp the movement in favour ot Cabinet reconstruction. In April last - a prolonged discussion on ■ 2 S r, p L arfc , in fcho war to °li Place in the Chamber of Deputies, but the vote of oonfidenoe in the Government was carried by tho largo majority of 316, thq only dissentients kc in g 34 official' Socialists. One of the Conservative newspapers asserted that tho largeness of the majority was due to a general desire not to raise obstacles to the Government's forthcoming work, but regretted that Baeon Sonnino (Minister of foreign Affairs) did not stale the reason for the delay which cost Italy losses at Durazzo, and complaine'd generally of decisions being taken too late, and of lack of allusion to the Mediterranean. The.critics of' the Government laid stress on such matters as the Balkan situation, tho request for the publication of the whole treaty; of the Triple Alliance, the modernisation of the consular soi'vice, and the sequestration of •jnemy property in Italy. Sinco the Chamber adjourned in April a marked change must have come over the political situation. Tho signs of coming trouble which were then discernible have now become so pronounced that tho creation of a National Ministry seems to bo the only way of avoiding tho renewal of party strife. The world has not yet been officially told why Italy has not' declared war against Germany. During the April sitting of the Italian chamber the Marchese d'e Viti President of the Anglo-Italian League, requested explanations regarding Italy's relations with Germany, ''without whose defeat ltalia,n victories against Austria would not be complete," but Baron Sonnino's reply threw no light point. Ho-declared that Italy s object was to'fight with all her might for the 'common cause, while safeguarding her supreme and vital interests. Does some vital interest prevent Italy from, going *to war with Germany? Commenting on Baron Sonnino's speech, . the Mcssaggero says it is liot disturbed by "the lack of a declaration of war on Germany, since tho reality •is that this war is actually going on, and is involved in the necessity of fighting, as Baron Sonnino said, with all our forces for. the common cause." In discussing this matter, Mr. Buchan in his History of the War remarks that it may bo assumed that Germany laboured to prevent a rupture, and hoped after the conclusion of the war to placate Italy at Austria's expense!. He goes on to say that Germany had for forty years been engaged in building up great commercial interests in Italy, and she had' no desire to lose her financial control of some of the chief Italian industries.. Ho further states that "thofiro of resentment against German ideals did not burn so fiercely in Italian hearts as among the other Allies." Whatever may bo tho true explanation of this curious anomaly, • wo may rest assured that Italy has strong reasons'for what sho ' has done and what she has not done. Wo may also ta.ko it for granted that tho Governments of her present • Allies havo bcon taken into •bor confidencc. By signing tho Pact of London, sho has bound herself not 1 to conclude a separate peacc, and she was represented at the Allied War Council, tho object of which was to secure closer co-opera- i tion among tho Entente Powers.

Wo demur (saya the London "Times") to the conclusion that, because Italy has not yet felt: able to mako formal war upon. Germany, her efforts aro insufficiently appreciated by her Allies. Wo know what services Italy has rendered to tho common' causo—which is essentially antiGerman, inasmuch as tho war arose from tho desire of Prussia-Germany to impose her will upon .Europe with tlio help of Austria and hor other dupes— botlL by her declaration of neutrality-in August, 1911, and by her armed intervention against Austria last May (1915). We know that the Allied ""relationship previously existing among Italy, Austria, and Germany complicated her situation, and impeded, though it could not prevent, the fulfilment of her wish to draw the sword with honour. We know how deficient was her military preparation and how'arduous the task of bringing Jt up to the high level required by modern warfare. Wo kndw also that when her peoplo decided to throw in their lot with the Allies they did not choose a moment that provided easy-and rapid triumph, but entered tho fray when tho arms of the enemy seemed to be crowned with striking, albeit temporary, success.

That Italy is whole-heartedly with us in this war there is no room for reasonable doubt. Quite recently her commercial relations with Germany were -absolutely severed by Royal decrec, and this is regarded by leading French newspapers as the preliminary to a formal de-

claration of war. The establishment of a strong and united National Cabinet should result in tho more energetic prosecution of the war for which tho nation is said to bo clamouring. Tho_ crisis is not tho outcome of a desiro for peace, but for putting rnoro power into" tho fight.