ITALY'S NEUTRALITY.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 7

ITALY'S NEUTRALITY.

WHY ITALY IS OUT OF THE WAR

There is in a recent issue of "La Tribuna"—one of the most influential of Italian newspapers—an article explaining the position of Italy in regard to the war. "Before anything else," it is early explained, "the Triple Alliance has nothing to do with the causes and aims declared in this war. The Alliance," the article goes on, "has not been made to revenge political crimes or for punishing the guilty; nor has it been made to suppress or transform nationality and sovereignty more or less implicated in those crimes. The treaty is a diplomatic one, not a penal law, and it can never-havc a penal law •function. The Treaty of Alliance was created for peace. But after the treaty had been in force for 35 years, one day Austria sends an ultimatum" to Servia; and Germany, against every-, body, stands by the side of Austria and ■'supports this ultimatum. War bursts. What has Italy to do with it ? Italy gots notice of the ultimatum of Austria, and. the two ultimatums of Germany against Russia and Franco, just as does any other Power that is foreign to the Triple Alliance. And along with such notice she gets an invitation ito go into the field along with Germany land Austria. How? What for? ■Against whom? In pursuance of what act of proper or collective responsibility?" It is urged cogently that the making of war is a very serious matter, and that thosew.who make it must discuss it and rediscuss it together. All must concur if all are to participate. And, it is pointed out, a treaty that would permit two parties to it to decide and a third to execute would be a treaty of vassalage of the third as regarded the other two. That was not the intention of the Triple Alliance. Therefore, it is argued, the fact that Germany and Austria decided on Avar without the advice of Italy, is a proof that they were conscious that the war which they had matured and brought about was not in their conception the war of the Triple Alliance, but "the war of the Double Alliance, of that alliance, Austro-German, that was founded in 1879, which has its law and its basis with the treaty of the same year, the treaty of defeuca against Russia." Finally this is said with some emphasis:—"lf there is no responsibility in . the - decision of the war there j cannot be any participation in the action. Not by our fault nor by our will are all the nations of Europe to-day engaged in the most tremendous war that the history of man can recall. >;