ITALY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 9, Issue 349, 16 January 1918, Page 1

ITALY.

In early October the Minister for Agriculture said that this yieatr's harvest had yielded ten million quintals (1,000,000 tons) less than last year's, and took the opportunity to mention the services rendered by British ships in importing grain. Of two and a quarter million tone imported during the year ending August, 1,300,000 were conveyed in British bottoms. "Le Journal de Geneve" (pro-Ally) in a long article on the interior situation in Italy, says: "In no other country will one find co many different elements and powerful ones opposed to a national war." "Le Journal dv Peuple," commenting on this says: "Those who felt the public reaction in France after certain military deceptions would sot be astonished that a still greater crystallisation of discontent could take place in Italy under similar circumstances."

M. Laxzari, Secretary of th« Italian Socialist Party, issued a private type-written, circular to over 300 Socialist Mayors, proposing to them that they should resign their positions «n bloc, as a protest against the war policy of the Government. The circular was marked private, and each Mayor was reauested to return his copy to the secretary after

reading. By some means a copy got into the hands of the Government, and. immediate steps were taken to cope with the situation. According to the latest inrofmaion, M.' Lazzari' had not been arrested. In the meantime the Executive of the Party met in Eomie and unanimously approved of the action of the secretary. It was also decided to demand an immediate convocation of Parliament, and three Socialist Deputies were charged to draw up a motion to be laid before Parliament. Discontent with the prolongation ol the war and the eoonanmic eituation is intensified in all parts of Italy. In consequence of unrest leading to riots in some plaoes, the following eight districts have been declared under martial law: Undine, Venetia, Mantua, Alleseandria, Genoa, Turin, and Messini. On September 2th a royal decrefe declared the districts and communes of Messini and Beggio in a state of war. The "Osservatore Romano," the official newspaper of the Pope and Vatican,' has declared, in an editorial, that it is ready to act in concert with Italian Socialism, and Socialism generally, to safeguard democratic liberty aad Parliament-