The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-06-06
ITALY WILL GIVE .
/ SUPPORT TO ALLIES
WITH GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
ON ARMAMENT QUESTION.
FIRST STAND MODIFIED
still Upholds the Principle Of Limita.
I tion But Admits It Is I'M
practicable at
Present.

Rome, June b.-Tne situation OF
Italy at the second Hague conference,
and especially her attitude in connec-
tlon with the limitation of ornaments,
has peculiar Importance because no
other country is so directly affected
by the struggle for supremacy which
is going on among the leading Euro
pean powers,
Germany and Austria exact the sup.
port 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 economical interests binding
them.
Tittoni First With England.
The people and government here
have always followed with interest
and approval every move tending to
abolish or at least render more diff
cult international armed conflicts.
The Italian minister of foreign affairs,
Signor Tittoni, was strongly influenc'
ed at the outset by his previous serv-
ice as Italian ambassador at London.
While there he had heard the state
ment of the British premier, Sir Hen
ry Campbell-Bannerman, in favor of a
reduction of ornaments, and later the
official announcement by Sir Edward
Grey favoring diminution of military
expenses. When, a few weeks later,
Tittoni was recalled to become minis
ter of foreign affairs, he announced
to the chamber of deputies that, as
foreign minister. he adhered to the
humanitarian British ideas which, as
ambassador, he had previously ap-
proved in London. He added: "The
government will give its representa-
tiyes to The Hague the mission to
support and second the English initia-
tive"
This declaration awakened consider
able apprehension at Beslin,. where it
was pointed out that Italy, although
a member of the triple alliance, was
Rursuing the policy which the other
Il embers of the triple alliance, Ger
lany and Austria, opposed.
ltaiy's Middle Course.
The situation suddenly changed as
a consequence of a meeting between
Signor Tittoni and the German chan
cellor Prince Won Buelow, at Rapello
The two statesmen were together
nearly three hours, entirely alone.
Signor Tittonis statement in the
chamber of deputies on May 10 may
be taken as Italy's final stand, and in
substance 1t reflects a conservative
middle course, by which Italy main
tains her friendly attitude to the Brit
ish peace proposals, and at the same
time renews her loyalty to Germany
and Austria by'sharing their reserva-
tions on the impracticability of the
immediate realization of the British
plan.
while / to-day reaffirm," said Sig
nor Tittoni, "the statement that the
Italian government is in sympathy
with the most noble objects suggest
ed by the broad-minded British initia-
tive, yet we fully agree with the Aus
tria-German reservation on the i'm
possibility of Immediately finding a
practicable and acceptable solution
for the problem"
Naval Warfare Usages.
The most important discussion, out
Sside of the limitation of ornaments,
will be on the rules and usages in
naval warfare, which will bring forth
quite number of problems that arose
during the Russo-Japanese war, es-
,pecially with regard to the lombard
ments of ports, laying of torpedoes,
transformation of steamers into war
ships, treatment of private property
of belligerents, of merchantmen in
neutral or belligerent ports, contra
band, etc.
Italy, which is chiefly a naval pow
er, will take a prominent part in the
discussion of all these subjects, which
will be dealt with by the Italian dele
gates only from technical, military
and humanitarian point of view, they
being convinced that an understand
ing on these points is Of the greatest
interest which will be much easier
reached If politics are excluded.