ITALY’S PART.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 10

ITALY’S PART.

IN COMPLETE UNISON WITH THE ALLIES. BARON SONNINO'S SPEECH. The following is a translation of the great speech delivered by Baron Sonnino, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Chamber of Deputies on December 1: On May 23 the Government, fortified by the votes of Parliament and by the solemn manifestations of the country, on behalf of his Majesty the King, declared war against Austria-Hungary. The reasons which determined this action are clearly shown by the Green Book presented to Parliament a few days before, by the other documents subsequently published and by the solemn speeches delivered during tho past months by the Prime Minister and by some of my colleagues. As the result of the situation created by the violation of the essential stipulations of the Triple Alliance on tho part of Austria-Hungary, by her premeditated aggression against Serbia as well as the failure of the negotiations which, moved by the strong desiro to spare tho country the calamities of a war, we endeavoured to conduct with her from December to May, 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 diplomatic relations with Italy broken off. , , , On August 20 wc declared war on Turkey. The violations of the Treaty of Lausanne committed by that Government ever since the signing of that treaty are well known. The acts of hostility fomented aiul directed by Turkey against us in Lybia, the continual sending of officers and of arms into our colony, the failure to return prisoners, and, further, the unjustifiable hindrances to the departure of Consular functionaries, the unjust impositions against Italian citizens v ho sought to return home, the negotiations patiently conducted up to the limit imposed by our dignity, aie all circumstances already known, which together with our desire to proceed in perfect harmony of purpose with the Allies in the Balkan Peninsula and in the East, led us to our declaration ot war against tho Ottoman Einpiie. Italy has carried on in the Balkans her traditional policy continued now during mailv years, inspired by the principle of nationality and of the independence of the Balkan peoples Our action was strongly directed to this and in full accord with the Allies. In fact, tho peaceful assignment to Bulgaria, with large compensations assured to Serbia, of Macedonia, which had been given to her by the treaty between the Balkan States m IJI-, constituted the basis of political accord sought by the Quadruple> Entente. But, if the policy of the Qundiuple Entente was directed to the union ot the Balkan States, that, of the Central Empires, on tho other hand fomented dissension and rivalry, and for this the ground on which they worked was only 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, tor the ends desired, the Allies were not able to take advantage. The work ot diplomacy, moreover, was able to do ici j 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 tho final a ictorv of the Allies. The members or those Governments, preoccupied solely with recent hatreds mid with immediate re-acquisitions, put aside the greater and more vital considerations of the political and economic independence of the nations. Bulgaria scorned the advantages offered bv the Quadruple Entente and instead turned her arms against Serbia, when she saw that gallant little nation assailed with enormous machinery of war by tho united m-mies of the two Central Empires. Hi those circumstances Italy R path was clearly marked out.. Me have declared war against Bulgaria in conjunction with the Allies, with whom wo have been constantly united in tho endeavours for a settlement. Thus, in the development of events, in the common unanimous effort of diplomatic negotiations, m the strimHe of arms carried on in the van ous 'theatres of war. the complete and admirable solidarity of the Allies has W , strengthened. Tho effective contribution "of the Italian arms tojtho common cause is recognised by all. * iom t o commencement of our war the formidable pressure of the Italian Army rushing forward to the conquest of the natural boundaries of Italy has, been felt bv the enemy. And tho efficacy of .... military co-operation appealed more manifest wlien, in September last, Austria found herself compelled to huiriodlv transport 'considerable cent gents towards tho Alps from Galicia, whereby there was rendered possible in that sector the victorious Russian counteTh|eunitcd work, carried on for several months, in war, as in negotiation., ha, persuaded us of the necessity of giving a public and solemn attestation of the solidarity existing amongst the Mlios bv means of a common declarnti m of the five Powers, renewing that vW upon between France England ami Russia on September o. 1914, and fn which Japan afterwards joined. The formal act of our adhesion has already been signed in London, E T'esto fia suLol che ogm uoino sganm. (And this" shall be an unanswerable sign bv which everv man may bo undeceiv ed.) The attitude of Greece has given rise to considerations and to oonti m crsie, which for a time reached a certain tension but the situation was fortunate]} soon’ cleared by means of an exchange of Notes, Greece having consented vvitbnut difficulty to give the required guarnn oes in harmony with her previous declarations of benevolent neutrality, so that there is every reason to hope, suspicion and distrust having now been dissipated, the best relations of confident cordiality will, be re-established with the Hellenic Kingdom. This will 1,-vr to satisfactorily facilitate and legal ate every question bearing on the guarantees for the sntoffy and the fiecfom of movement of the Allied troops, as well as at Salonika as ,t.s approaches, and the security of supplies by sea. 1 lu political and economic independence oi Serbia has always been one of the pivots of Italian policy in the Balkans. It responds to a vital necessity of the very existence of Italy as a great

Power. The political and economical absorption of Serbia by Austria-Hun-gary would represent a grave and constant danger to Italy, raising at the same time an insuperable barrier to our economic expansion on tile opposite shore of the Adriatic. Tho Green Book which I had The honour to present to Parliament in May last makes known our action for the defence of Serbia even before our entry into the war. By agreement with our Allies we regard ns an indispensable aim of this war the restoration of tho heroic Serbian people to the plenitude of their independence. To-day the Serbian army, under the weight of the double aggression, seeks a ■ way of escape towards tlie sen. Notwithstanding the praiseworthy efforts of the AngloFrench corps landed at Salonika, Italy cannot remain indifferent to the appeal of anguish which comes across tho Adriatic. As soon as possible, therefore, we will do all in our power to give help to the army of King Peter, assuring, in accord with tho Allies, their provisioning nml equipment, and facilitating their concentration, awaiting the arrival of the moment when the fight will bo. renewed. Tho presence of our flag on tho opposite shore; of the Adriatic will seive also to reaffirm the traditional policy of Italy in regard to Albania, which represents now ns in the past ail interest of the first importance to us, inasmuch as hoc destiny is inti matey bound up with the settlement of the Adriatic. Tt is of tho utmost importance to Italy that the independence of the Albanian poople, whose distinct and ancient nationality was mainly, foi interested designs, debated and denied should bo maintained. For the reconstitution of the natural frontiers and for the conquest of the gates of Italy, the valour of the Italian arms is providing with tenacity and self-sacrifice no less than with dash, and together with these we shall obtain tho redemption of the people of our race who for long years have maintained an unequal struggle against the underhand and persistent vv.tk of de-nationnlisa-tion pursued by the Austrian Government. Tho strategic defence of the Adriatic constitutes another pivot of our political action. It is tor Italy a necessity of life, an absolute necessity of legitimate defence, to obtain a settlement of the Adriatic which may compensate for tho unfavourable configuration of our eastern littoral. Finally tho Government has greatly at heart the jealous guardianship of our vital Mediterranean interests. IVhen about four years ago the equilibrium of the Western Mediterranean was threatened Italy was constrained to go to war for the "conquest of Lybia, and our jieople well understood its high political significance. And when there was brought into discussion and rendered necessary the settlement of the Enstern 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 as regards all other rival Powers, it was impossible for Italy timidly to stand aloof, 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 fervent trust of the entire nntion, has, for six months, strenuously waged, beyond our borders, I close my speech by proclaiming onto again that Italy is firmly resolved to bravely carry forward the war with all her power and at the cost of any sacrifice, however great., until the realisation of her sacred national aspirations, as well ns of those general conditions of independence, security and mutual respect of the nations which alone can form the basis of a lasting peace, and which constitute also the raison d’etre of the compact which equally binds ourselves and our Allies*