Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-12
Italy and France.

In the language of diplomacy, the re-
lations between Italy and France are
strained" The feelings that ledto the
recent outbreak in Marseilles sway alike
the humblest and the Hottest Italian.
The Roman Cabinet, however, keep
them well in hand, but enough is reveal
ed to show that events of moment may
yet grow out of the present relations DE-
tween the two nations. The invasion OF
Tunis, professedly to correct the unruly
barbariaus. whom the Bey could not or
would not restrain, now appears to have
been cool slap IN the face to Italy. N. ST.
Hilaire appears to make no bones of this,
as he says in his circular, after abiding
to numerous SINS of omission of the
Beys, that their effect would have been
Ito undermine in detail the credit of
France in Tunis, so as some day to put
in peril her great African colony" A
pretty plain admission that the chastise
ment of the Kroumirs was pretext He
alludes to ''imprudent cOunsels" which
the Bey needed, but, of course, does not
mention the Italians by name.
The French press, however, reads M.
st. Hilaires circular between the lines,
and is plain spoken in its references to
Italy.
The Paris Temps filings down the
gage, and tells the Italian journals that,
if they had fancied that France wished
peace at any price and would quietly
stand by and let Italy have full sway
over the Bey, they are wofullY mis-
taken. 1t comments on Italian ignorance
of the affairs of other nations, somewhat
forgetful of French ignorance in
1901, and ridicules the uppishness of
Italians in general.
As things look the republic of France
and the kingdom of Italy, both recent
political creations, are spelling for
fight In fact, young Italy has been
trying to pick a quarrel with Austria
over the Trentino for some time, but wise
counsels prevailed and that crisis was
averted. France was so thoroughly
drubbed in the affair with Germany that
she has long desired to retrieve her
prestige. So long as France confines
herself to Tunis there will hardly be any
great trouble. But should she reach out
for Tripoli there will likely be quarrel.
AS between the two the contest would
be hot and doubtful. France has long
since recovered from the ordeal of 1870
II, and is perhaps to day stronger than
ever-certainly so in accumulated
wealth. But in Italy, despite the recent
welding of the numerous fragments
that went to make up Vic
tor Emanuers kingdom, she would
find no mean foe There has been
little display of Italian military proves
in recent years. but the record of the
Sandman contingent in the Crimea was
creditable, and the war with Austria in
1859 showed that Italians could strike
for their country. The Italian army is
well organized, and the fleet, which
numbers such powerful ironclads as the
DuilliO, is first-class.
But if the two States come to blows
they will likely have allies. Turkey
would naturally fight for Tripoli with
Italy to back her, and if English prom
ises are to be kept, England must defend
the Pores possessions.
The relations between Italy and Ger
many, too, are quite friendly, and. while
Italy owes much to France in 1859, she
owes more to Germany in 1866 and 1870,
for without German countenance and
support a united Italy was impossible.
Italy, though France does not choose to
admit it. is European power. and she
is anxious to make her influence felt.
France looks on her as an upstart that
rose while France was humbled.
What may be the outcome of their
strained relations cannot be safely pre-
dicted, but if they shall come to blows it
will only be when the shrewdness of the
Cabinets gives way to popular clamor.