New-York tribune., 1901-06-23

ests. and to which she has stronger claims than
any other power. There are an infinitely larger
number of Alba mans in Italy than there are
Cretans IN Greece. Indeed. their numbers have
been estimated at half million Besides this.
numbers of influential men in Italy boast of their
Albanian origin. prominent among them being
ex-Premier Crispi, who figured as honorary
president of the Albanian congress held at
Naples the other day. which attended By
delegates from every town. district and clan in
Albania. well representatives of the AL
banian Nationalist committees in no less than
thirty-two cities in Italy
The congress wound up by calling upon the
italian Government in the name of the Latin
brotherhood to put end to the 'enslaving
oppression of the Albanians by Turkey" which
has become "intolerable." and, by helping AL
bania to secure its freedom. to place "a for
midable obstacle to the ambition of Austria to
control the Adriatic' The congress likewise re-
called the words of Garibaldi. who. some years
before his death. wrote a letter in which he made
use of the following words: THE cause of the
Albanians is our own. and / should be very
happy TO employ what remains to me of life in
the favor of that brave people" Nor must these
resolutions of the Albanian congress held at
Naples be looked upon mere idle talk. For
besides Crisp there were many other Italian
statesmen and politicians of weight and inffu-
avail themselves of their seats in the Italian
Senate and Chamber to champion the cause of
Albania. That they have already brought pres
, sure to bear upon the government is apparent
from the Foreign Minister'S expression of SYM
pathy for Albania in his speech last week. and
in his appointment of a large force of additional
consuls and vice-consus. nominaIIy for the pur-
pose of looking after the interests of the large
Italian population in Albania. but in reality to
where an nsurrection against Turkish rule has
lust broken out the Ottoman authorities of Novi
Bazaar having been forced to flee for their lives
by the rebels.
TO RESIST TURKISH TYRANNY.
1t is precisely this outbreak of revolution in
Albania against Ottoman tyranny which is the
most serious feature Of the situation and which
is destined to bring matters between Austria
and Italy a crisis. For there is doubt that
this insurrectonary movement IN Albania will
have not merely the sympathy. but likewise the
very material support of the Italian people, who
may be depended to help with money with
arms and with men; and should the Turkish
Government take any steps TO suppress the
rising by those methods which. when employed
in Bulgaria, brought about the with Russia
of 1877. there is doubt that the Italian Gov
ernment would be forced oy popular sentiment
in Italy 20 intervene on behalf of the AIbanians
in the same way that Car Alexander H. al
though autocrat compelled most re-
luctantly To intervene in behalf OF the Bull
garians and TO involve his empire in a terribly
costly and. from Russian point OF view. un-
productive struggle with the Sublime Porte.
For. stated above. there is a large italian
population in Albania, which is, of course, in
sympathy with the nationalist movement and
such most obnoxious to the Turkish authori-
ties, and which would become object of
such resentment and violence if the Sultan let's
i~os4 his wild hordes of savage Kurds. Bashi-
bazouhs and irregular troops In Albania. he
did ir Bulgaria four-and-twenty years ago. that
intervene. if for other cause than to protect
and avenge its own subjects. From the mo-
ment, however. that Italy moves a finger in
Albania. Austria, according the assurance
conveyed in her Foreign Minister'S speech to
the parliamentary delegations the other day will
intervene herself. either 10 maintain the statu
Quo-that is. Turkish rule in Albania-Or else
to secure the province for herself on the same
terms Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Now. Italy can just little afford TO allow
Austria TO establish herself in Albania Aus
Italy, for the civilized power that holds Albania
commands the Straits of Otranto and .he en-
trance to the Adriatic Sea- Indeed Austria has
still greater Interests at stake in the matter
than Italy. for her only seabOard and all her
ports the Adriatic. from which she could
be shut off If the Straits of Otranto were held
by Italy, whereas the latter has an immense
seaboard and all her 1nest ports on the western |
and northwestern coast line of the kingdom