New-York tribune., 1907-06-05
ITALY AT THE HAGUE.
Delicate Position of Signor Tittoni-
FnendlY to Al PO7CerS.

Rome, June 4.-The position Of Italy at the second
| Hague conference and her attitude in connection
I with the limitation of armaments have peculiar
/ Importance because other country is directly
affected b. the struggle for supremacy which is
going on among the leading European powers.
Germany and Austria exact the support OF Italy
because she is their ally under the Triple Alliance:
England because Of the affinity of their Views and
their traditional friendship; France because Of the
/ commercial and economic interests binding them
/ The people and government here have always
followed with interest and approval every move
tending to abolish, at least render more difficult,
/ international armed conflicts. The Italian MIN
/ lister of Foreign Affairs. Sghor Tittoni, was
strongly Influenced at the outset by his previous
/ service as Italian Ambassador London. While
there he had heard the statement of the British
| Premier, Sir Henry Campbel-Bannernan. in favor
Of reduction Of armaments, and later the official
announcement by Sir Edward GREY favoTing a
diminuton OF military expenses. When few
weeks later sigE-r Tfttoni was recalled TO become
. Minister of Foreign Affairs he announced the
/ Chamber Of Deputies that Foreign Minister he
. adhered to the humanitarian British ideas which.
/ as ambassador. he had previously approved in Lon
don. He added: THE government will give its rep
resentatIves to The Hague the mission to support
and second the English initiative"
This declaration awakened considerable appre-
heusion at Berlin where Il was pointed that
/ Italy. although a member of the Triple Alliance.
was pursuing the policy which the other members
/ OF the Triple Alance-Germany and Austria-op-
posed.
RESULT or MEETING AT RAPALLO.
The situation suddenly changed as a consequence
. Of meeting between Senator T1ttoni and the
! German Chancellor Prince Bulow. at Rapallo.
. The two statesmen were together nearly three
hours. From what has leaked out from different
. quarters II seems that Prince Won Buow although
/ acknowledging that the situation OF Italy was
delicate and difficult and that Sgnor T1ttoni had
ably steered among tho shoals, complained that
. the Italian government. whenever a question OF
. international character arose, ala not think It
/ necessary 10 show a united front with the two
/ other members of the Triple Alliance. Several in
stances were cited TO support this contention be-
ginning with the Cretan question. IN which Italy
/ Joined Russia, France and England, while Ger
many and Austria refused to enter the group OF
the protectors of that island. and ending with the
/ Slts ~ sore sL2leee of the AlgeciraS conference.
/ Nenosta and Henry White. with the greatest dip
the time Of the apalIos meeting DId n ys g,snPa p
/ hgrtct a,pC, mat Ar. White, who had Just gone az
fore had Fre mission OF bringing France in line
gard the limitation OF arraar1entS9 w EiT I'm III If
/ nave nave meant again the isolation OF Germany and
the f,,, aTs.ms9ts Of Prince Won Bqlo were not
10 an ally 80 that W sno1 12h{ ,op 9f EeT a of an ally
/ Iuittos , oTIuI5v NHlgh would save the suscepu-
procedure IN tho discussion OF the If9Jfatio9 ~
| arnainents as would be acceptable 70 all Prince
/ Won Huq| agreed. SO immediately after his re-
! turn 70 Rome signor Tittont made to the great
tie the matter Unfortunatey # was o T9GlG SgI
/ by England and the United States (the answer ~
indications are that Prince Won eu {}t,Io ~, me
/ RapalIo. MN 1t
A CONSERVATIVE COURSE ADOPTED.
The struggle which has been going on to obtain
ltalys support finally led TO Slgnor Titoni's state
| ment in the Chamber of Deputies on May 10. This
! may be taken Italy's final stand and IN sub
20 I've mid
which Italy maintains her friendly attitude 10 the
! British peace proposals and at the time re-
| news her loyalty 70 Germany and Austria by shar-
! Ing their reservations tho inpractIca bIlIty NJ
| the immediate realization Of the British nlan
! While l to-day reafllrm," said signor TittonI
the statement that the Italian government is IN
sympathy wit With the most noble objects suggested
agree with the AustrO- German reservation on the
! ard acceptable solution for the problem
| Thus the three members OF the Triple Alliance
Tatons against the present of limit
t5 h GEt DT16n wfn Italy deGF9g herself in
When It was decided to extend the Invitation to
the second Hague conference 20 those countries
which did not send delegates 10 the first meeting
the question came UP again whether the Pope
should be included; NJ Muravieff. tho Russian
Ambassador, and NJ van Weede the Dutch Min
ister' apPfSa]tntu ] S,s'or iiitohi who however:
the conference Of 1899. when his prcdacessor Ad-
Indirect participation OF the Vatican he might dis
cuss tho matter. but given that precedent any
I
which Il would raise throughout the country Re
/ sides France this time objected to anv interfer-
in hi'Hs i89S '''' ' ''N'' 60 0'' i'''y
HUMANITARIAN MEASURES FAVORED
With regard 10 the Russian programme communI-
Gated to the powers italy is disposed TO widen as
much possible the functions and competence OF
the arbitration tribunal. and further limit the
questions affecting the honor and vital interests,
so much discussed in 1S9s which have TO be ex
cluded from arbitration. Count TornieIu italian
Ambassador TO Paris and one Of the plenipoten-
ares at the present conference is especially com
petent I'm the question of establishing the rights
and duties of neutral countries in time of war
having made special reports the subject since
| the time Of the Hispano-American War.
| The most important discussion, outside of the
Limitation Of armaments, win be on the rules and
usaGes in naval warfare, which viii bring forth
a number of problems. which arose in the Russo
japanese War especially with regard to lombard
ment of ports. laying OF torpedoes transformation
OF steamers into warships. treatment of the pri-
vate property OF belIgerents. Of merchantmen IN
neutral belligerent port. contraband, etc TtaIy
which is chiefly naval power. viii take a promi-
neut part in the discussion of all these subjects
which Will be dealt with by the Italian delegates
of view, being convinced that an understan ndInE
Will be much easily reached If politics Is
excluded.
POLICY OF RUSSIA SETTLED.