Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-12
LIBERTY OF THE PRESS
ITALY'S NEW MINISTER OF THE
INTERIOR STARTED WELL.
Special Cahiegrata to The Star,

ROME. March 12-Baron Sonnino, the
new premier and minister OF the interior,
has begun his work well. He started out
by sending a dispatch to all the projects
In Italy vindicating the liberties of the
press. The various projects are warned
that In the future no telegram may be re-
fused transmission except in those rare
cases which are provided for by interna-
tfonal Overwhelmingly, when the tee-
grams endanger the safety of the state or
are contrary to the laws or to morality.
Even the opposition papers are acinowl-
edgtns the kindly and timely character of
TINS ORDER For some time past especially
during the last year. the arbitrary Interior
ence of the min.stery of the interior bv sun
pressing or delaying for political reasons
kilograms addressed to both Italian and
foreign newspapers has been the constant
cause of complaint
Baron Sonnino has had experience which
would enable him to grasp the Significance
OF Things like the suppression of new dis
patches. After his university career he
entered the diplomatic service and served
as junior secretary at the Italian legation
In Madrid. Vienna Berlin and Versailles
He then took up the study of the working
classes in different parts of Italy and a
book which he wrote, Il Contadina in Sici-
liza, dealing with labor and agrariau ques-
tons. made quite stir at the time. His
career in the chamber of deputies has given
him exceptional opportunities for studying
all subjects which pertain TO matters OF
public interest He Is said to be for so
experienced pariiamentarian an extraor-
dfnarily bad tactician. His friends say
that this is because of his sterling honesty,
which enables him to despise minor maneu-
yers. They say that IL he can command
and keep together majority In the cham
Der he is the prime minister whom, above
all, Italy needs. No one has greater knowl-
edge of the condition of southern Italy or
a ms nj nd md nAin
Many Newspapers Unfriendly.
Despite the olive branch extended to the
Italian press many of the newspapers are
unfrendly. There are unmistakable signs
Of newspaper campaign for the enbar-
rassment of the government by the resur-
rection of that old enemy to italian peace,
irredentism Until recently the Italian press
maintained the admirably correct attitude
toward the Austrian ally which has been
its rule for the last two or three years.
Within the last few days. however, there
has been a marked change In the attitude
of some OF the opposition newspapers, and
a sudden rush OF news calculated to dis
turb the relations of the two countries
news fomented by methods which ought
to make the constantly warning journalists
of Berlin and Paris, ever eager for war,
turn green with envy. The vague formula
I'VE learn from Vienna or from Trieste
gives no indication of the source of this
sometimes ridiculous character suggest the
manner and reason of its manufacture.
Thus I'VE learn from Vienna" that two
cruisers are being fitted out at Pola with
utmost speed, or have been dispatched from
Pola for an unknown destination, presumed
to be an Italian port. or are being Kept at
Pola under steam to await emergencies
that officers in the Austrian army nave
been ordered to learn italian instead OF
Russian; that the Qualifications of the
frontier are being renewed; that Italian
citizens are being expelled from Austrian
territory; even that little officer boys talk
of taking trip to Milan as they would
of a drive in the Prater. The Tribuna'
which has often been accused or being the
enemy of both Italy and Austria, SO bitter
has II been at times in It's opposition, goes
the correspondence one better. Recently IL
published an article signed by one OF It's
most constant contributors, which could
hardly have been more frankly or more
mischievously trredentist.
Tainted italian Public.
1t tainted the Italian public. with its
useless Difference to Austrian susceptible
tiles What had been the use Of 1t all? 1t
asks. Were the inhabitants of Trent any
better treated? Was even their ally any
better pleased? The Tribuna said that 1t
did not wish for war; that 1t had no de-
sire to revive irredeutism; II had no desire
to end the triple alliance. All that IL
wished to say was that trust IN the alliance
seemed useless as a protection for the
italians of Italy. and that abstention from
irredentism had not prohted the Italians
of Trent and Triest. So the Tribuna IN
so many words practically. announces that
il Is going to play with fire again, there
being no longer any danger of its scorch-
ing its friends in office; also there being
very little danger that the country VIII
take its fireworks seriously
Meanwhile the Popoo Romano, no frlend
Of the new ministry. but always willing 10
seek its own prejudices In questions OF
really national Importance for the purpose
of showing what is the real foreign policy
of italy reproduces an old speech on that
subject which Count Guycciardini pro-
nounced in the chamber of deputies May
% 1902 and says that II hopes that its
pu ,Iication at this instant may rehete any
doubts that may exist abroad as 70 the
sentiments and policy of the new minister
of foreign affairs In this speech count
Guvcciardini says: With regard TO our
interest In that part of the Balkans winch
looks toward the Adriatic. ] think they
can be benefited rather than numbered by
our remaining on terms of good colieasueS
with Austria 1t is useless 10 indulge III
Illusions With Austria we must be either
allies or enemies
r. n1