ITALIAN UNREST

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 6

ITALIAN UNREST

There is, at time of writings no satisfactory clue to the " grave" internal developments in Italy, darkly hinted at by a Milan message. Internal dissension and Ministerial crisis are unusual accompaniments to a * sweeping military victory, and the message raises somo misgiving as to the net result of the prolonged offensive against Istria. But though the concurrence of success in the field and reorganisation in the Cabinet is unusual, it is by no means impossible, especially as the internal unrest of Italy has for some months been a matter of some comment. Ministerial rearrangements in Italy and in France represent the leadership fluctuations of ordered democracies, as distinct from the disorderly tumult of the Russian extremists and reactionaries, and from tho disciplined tranquillity of a military autocracy like Prussia. Its very virtues place democracy at a disadvantage in fighting militarist absolutism, and this factor was appraised by the. war-lords when they created the war; but, fortunately for freedom, they appraised it 1 too Highly. Wjth all its defects* democracy can, and will, win through; ■ . ■ . Some friction in the diplomatic sphere —some "present difficulties" between Italy and her Allies—is., spoken of by the Idea Nazionale. The Entente's Russian policy is attacked by the newspaper, whiph says the fact that Italy's Allies sent Socialist Ministers to Pelrograd contributed to the difficulties referred to. There is, of course, a traditional rivalry

between Slav and Italian in the Mediterranean, and there is some degree of clash between the claims of Italians and of Southern Slavs (Serbs and Croats) to Adriatic territory; and, at an earlier stage, this rivalry reacted upon Russia as the professed head of the Slav races. But at a time when the New Russia has repudiated all annexations and all expansionist designs^even in Turkey—it is difficult to see ho\V the y former causes of Italian jealousy can survive. As far as Russia is concerned, a Slay movement that has abandoned even Constantinople cannot be very dangerous in the Adriatic; so presumably Italian criticism of the Entente's Russian policy is based on other ground. Only the other dayj when the Italian Army handed over parts of Epirus to the Venezelist Greeks, it looked as if the diplomatic requirements of Italy and the other Entente units had

at last been co-ordinated. But now come these munnufings from Rome and from Milan.