ONE WAR AIM OF ITALY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 17 May 1918, Page 3

ONE WAR AIM OF ITALY.

SIGNOE, OP.LANDO ON THE NEED OF UNITY.

POME, March 4

Signor Orlando, the Prune Minister, .spoke in the Senate to-day in the debate on the Governments policy. Italy in this war. said Signor Orlando," is -pursuing the essential aims of possessing boundaries capable of defence and safeguarding the imprescriptible rights of the Italian nation. It is clear what an influence can be produced upon this dual purpose by having upon our frontier a people sincerely united with Italy. It was but the traditional malice of Austria to excite the races which she oppii: ■•■ i one against the other so as to m '.'-l' it easier to master them. A ii..:itrary policy, tending to replace, quarrel-- : r.d hatreds by solidarity, should be the outcome of common sufferings. Ti-'-must come ahout without involving i. r. need at the present stages to decide what influence this attitude should have upon the war aims. There is at present but one war aim, and that is to wi n victory. To eliminate the unhappy misunderstanding which has come into existence in regard to Italian aspiralions and the feelings of the Slavs of the Adriatic constitutes an aim which is i n itaelf good and just and useful. (Loud cheers.) It seems superfluous to reassert the inexorable decision of the Government to maintain the political and mora.: unity of the country. The Government declares agai n that one of its principal duties is to proceed against and punish all those, to whatever class they may belong, who violate or forget their duties towards the country. Justice will pursue its curse severely and inexorably, and with all possible rapidity ; but while justice is performing it* function it is <-sentinl that, the collee- j 1 tive spirit shall. n ot evade discipline and [ wander away from the oii e supreme i aim. that of resisting to vanquish and of vanquishing to live. Signor Ituffini : remarked that history has recorded its judgment that Novara was necessary for Italian unity. Perhaps historywill one day make it clear that there was no loss in the misfortune of 'Caporetto, aiuL-whiie long years were required in order to show that Novara was not fruitless, because, if it shook i.« severely, it has left us still stand ing face to face with the enemy. We are sustained' by our confidence that in the .soul, in the will, in the good sense> even of the Italian people ther e is all the force and deiermiDatior needed to ensure its safety. We must, if need be, sacrifice all we have, ouj possessions and our lives, but our country must be immortal. ' We must venture cur all that Italy may live (Loud and prolonged cheers. \ Signor Scialoia then moved that "the Senate approves of the statement of the Government." The motion having bee„ carried by acclamation the Senate adjourned until Saturdav.—Reuter