Why Italy Is Neutral.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2466, 20 May 1915, Page 9

Why Italy Is Neutral.

"Is it any wonder, in .view of these facts, that, when Germany declared war against France, Italy remained neutral? There was not only a definite understanding with Great Britain and France, but also one with Russia. Even if the Triplo Alliance had been for offensive as Well as defensive purposes, so far as Italy is ooncerned,. she need not havo lifted a rifle, since she was as justified ill ignoring .'a scrap of paper' as Germany, her'partner, was ill violating tho neutrality of Belgium. Success either by Austria or Germany must always be a menace to Italy. If, however, Italy tights by tho side of the Triple Ell- - she will have a chance, of getting back not only Trieste and Fiume, but Austrian Tyrol, Istel'ia, Dalmatia, and, perhaps, Albania. All these are in the natural sphere of her influence. If she were to help Germany, tho latter, if victorious, would assuredly turn and crush Austria, and then send Italy to get a footing in the Medierranean Sea. To do tliis would be a great blow to Great Britain and France.

Cermany and Tripoli. "It was this same Giolitti that you have heard of ivho, after the Italian invasion. of Tripoli, roso in the Parliament and said: 'If we hadn't hurried up to seize Tripoli, a great Power was going to seize it.' Of course, he meant Germany. When Italy thought of invading Tripoli, she was very much concerned lest she should meet with opposition from Mahomedan Egypt, as well as from Turkey, the suzerain Power of Egypt. But England once more came to the help of Italy, her natural ally, by sending Lord Kitchener to Egypt to hold Mahomedanism in rein. It was within a few days of Lord Kitchener's arrival in Egypt that Italy invaded Tripoli, feeling sure that the Jtahomedans in Egypt were safe in the hands of an iron master. In this Italy judged rightly, for the Egyptians did not help Tripoli nor did thev participate in any way in the religious war against Italy. The Franco-Italian Frontier. "Italian neutrality Jias oven up till the present hern nf immense value to France, who, along the 230 miles of her Italian frontier has not a single j:uard. This relieves Francf> of the necessity of dispersing her forces and weakening her front on the East thereby. The Italian massing of troops on the Austrian fronthe othw: hand, must have the

effect of weakening Germany's strength m either the Eastern or the Western boundaries of the war arena.

Effect of Dardanelles Campaign,

"Tho Allies' plan, of opening the Dardanelles was not, as is sometimes said, undertaken with the object of releasing tile Russian wheat in the Black Sea ports, but to induce all the neutral Balkan States to come in on the sido of the Allies, because they are all interested equally with tho Allies in the conquest of the Turks. Greece was bound to help Servia, but she is afraid of Bulgaria. But Bulgaria has not tho slightest sympathy with either Germany or Austria. Sho has lier own reasons for preventing Greece from helping Servia. By the first Balkan war Bulgaria gained the Adrianople province and the greater part of Macedonia, but by the second Balkan war, when she became Austria's catspaw to rob Servia of her spoils of victory, she lost all her former gains. Bulgaria now wants a small piece of territory from Rumania —Dobroudja, some 2700 square miles, with a population of 283,000; sho wants KosSava. from Servia, and part of Isketche and Cavala from Greece. These are tho reasons why Bulgaria lias not yet shown practical sympathy With the Allies, but I am sure that some satisfactory settlement of these difficulties can be made.

The Nation of tha Hour. "All eyes are on Italy, who holds the key to the situation, for if Italy comes in the Balkan States will all follow. Giolitti, I am afraid, is too much under tho thumb of Prince von Bulow, the German Ambassador, and Giolitti's influence will he against war. But the patriotic sentiment of the country, the sentiment of friendliness to England and France and the Garibaldian influenco will in the end triumph.