OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY

.ITALY'S WAR PREMIER

((.Received 10th December, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 9th December. "The death is announced of Signor Antonio Salandra, Italy's wartime Prwmier.

Salandra, who was Premier of Utaly at the time of the outbreak of the. World War, was born at Troia, Puglia, 78 years ago, and entered Parliament for Lucera. From the beginninij of his political career he was a Libieral of the Left "Wing, and when Bacon Sonuino becamo Treasury Miuistar in tho Crispi Cabinet he chose Sala.ndra as Under Secretary. Salandra was then 40 years old and lie became Minister of Finance in the first Sonnino Calxinet of 1906 and Treasury Ministor in the second Cabinet of 1909-10. When, in March, 1914, Giolitti resigned, Salandra waa called upon to form a new Calbnnet, and he headed tho Ministry whit«:h made the momentous decision to remain neutral at the outbreak of the war, despite the Triple Alliance, because Austria had failed to fulfil her obligations under the treaty. In May, 1915^ Salandra made the decision to enter the war on behalf of tho Allies, but resigned from office in June, 1916, becamso of an Austrian offensive in the Tren'tino. Salandra continued to support the Boselli and Orlando Cabinets, and from 1919 to 1922 was a champion of rtalian Liberalism and opponent of the lextremists. He was a delegate to tho 3'jeague of Nations, and represented ItalY? at the negotiations that followod the rmassaere of tho Tcllini mission at Kpiwas in 1923, which created an ItaloGreeik: crisis. Salandra did not join the 33 'ascist Party, though ho supported tho movement at first. After Mussolini's declaration of 3rd January, 1925, however, Salandra withdrew his support, feeling that Fascism was incompatible with Liberal ideals. Ho did not, nevertheless, withdraw from the Chamber. Subsequently his opposition Jbetamo attenuated, aDd in 1928. at thf: proposal of Mussoliui, ho was creatod a Senator.