The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1916. ITALY AND GERMANY

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13271, 29 August 1916, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1916. ITALY AND GERMANY

The official declaration of war by Italy upon Germany will create no surprise, and, beyond simplifying and straightening out an anomalous position, will have little effect upon the conduct of operations. To all intents and purposes a state of war has existed between the two countries ever since Italy declared war against Austria and Turkey. This is borne out by

contemporary facts. Among these (as a contemporary points out) none are more significant than the speeches of Signor Salandra, who, speaking for the entry of Italy into the war, denounced the crimes of Germany against humanity and international law in terms that have never been surpassed in any other country, even if they have been equalled. There are other signs, it is true, pointing to a special feud with Austria, signs which may be summarised as negotiations which failed for the surrender by Austria to Italy of the Irredenta provinces. But even there Germany played a prominent part, through her special Ambassador, the ex-Chancellor von Bulow. It would, under the circumstances, be arguable that Germany only sent her Ambassador to endeavour to help her ; lly- Austria, by arranging the settleent of claims which were seriously reatening her ally with war at a most .iconvenient time, in a most inconvenient manner. Under ordinary circumstances'it would be argued that this quarrel about the Irredenta had no interest for Germany, and required no military assistance from Germany. Of course, anything diverting Austrian troops from the sectors on which they were fighting side by side with German troops would be most inconvenient for Germany. Still, the point would be arguable. But the circumstances were not ordinary. Though the matter was made to appear as a matter of territory between Italy and Austria, it was really very, much, greater and wider. The,statesmen whose behaviour necessitated tbe dispatch of von Bulow fo theacene were really engaged in throwing off the German yoke fastened bj many years of internal treachery and external corruption upon Italy. The story was very well told by Qr; Dinoo to Mrfcoofc "Italy's Day of

obtain dominance of a nation is to obtain command of its finance. That obtained, the control of the commerce, the politics, and the very destiny of the nation follows. This was the German achievement. The episode began with the establishment of a great bank, Italian in name, apparently managed by Italians, with German money and really under Herman direction. The corruption of the' Italian Parliament followed, and with it the subordination of Italian interests along the whole line to German. The areh-organiser on the Italian side was Giolitti, and to his power nothing seemed able to offer resistance. SaJandra and Sonnino, however, began a campaign, showing their power first by preventing Italy from fulfilling her alleged obligations as a member of the Triple Alliance. From that they proceeded, having public opinion with them, to the demand for the Irredenta, which the oligarchy (Parliamentary) of Giolitti failed, of course, to sustain. Hut the demand made headway, and Prince Bulow had to be called in. He used his great gifts to persuade the Austrians to agree, but the stubborness of the old Emperor upset all his plans. The Austrian .Minister began to hold out hopes that the desired concession might be made after the war, but Salandra and Sonnino insisted on immediate surrender to the great discomfiture of Giolitti. Then the public opinion of Italy took a hand, Gabriele d'Annunzio fanned the llames with harangues and poetry, and tlie agitation increased until the Parliamentary majority crumbled before the wrath of the nation. The Lusitania incident completed the work of the statesmen. All Italy exploded with borror, Giolitti resigned, and tied for his life.- Bulow returned to his own :n!"\ discomfited, and Italy entered I inbi t!m war. The immediate result, of eoursf, was the downfall of German domination in Italy. Having gone to J war by securing that downfall, Italy l ran hardly 1"' said nol to have gone j to war with Germany as well as with ' \uslria. Common sense surely declares J thai Ihe war which was primarily aimI i-d at Ihe restoration of the coveted j |. rri'.ory, and was made against the | .•ffnrts of Ihe Germans' cabal, which i lud -.nt possession of Italy body and - a;;, v,.'- a war against Germany. GerJ ;,i.::i\. in order to hold the command j over Italy, tried to obtain some conees- - ,in f, mil Italy, and failing lost the .•..• 11;11.tn11 by violence of war. How can :i be said, then, that Germany and !t.''\ were n< t at war? True, there lias lii'cii no actual clash, but Germany has been lighting Ihe allies of Italy on several fronts, and Italy has faced the alii, s ,if ii"riii:iny in various theatres, wisi!- 1 ,j -;..( several naval actions have ewnluaied in which Italian shipping has suffered, and it is very much open In dniibl if Italy's foes have been exclusively Austrian. The formal declaration will clear the around, and remove a remarkable anomaly which, however, could not have lon.n' continued in view of the fact that Italian troops have been sent to Macedonia, where they will be confronted by German soldiers. It is interesting at this stage to note thai Italy last April formally denounced a convention with Germany by which the two Powers mutually undertook to respect private properly in case of war. There is very little property owned by Italians in Germany, but German possessions in Italy are valued at £100,000,000.