Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

pected since the scenes in the chamber
in July eliminated on De
Delayed cember =. by the resisna-
ton of Premier Giolitti
OAiSiS' and the entire cabinet.
The government bill rejected by the
chamber proposed the reduction o. in
direct taxation on necessities and the loss
of revenue from this source was to be
offset by progressive income tax.
Baron Sidney Sonnino. ex-premier was
and on the tenth instant he announced the
Following formation: Premier and min
lister of the interior. Baron Sidney Som
nino: foreign affairs. Count Guicciar-
dire: justice. Sig. Scialoja; finance, Sig
Arlotta; treasury. Sig. Salandra; ma.
rine. Admiral Bettolo; war. Gen. Spin
gardi: agriculture, Sig. Luigi Luzzato:
public works. Sig. Rubini; instruction,
Sig. Dance: minister of posts and tele-
graphs, Sig. Disantonofrio.
The unrest in Italy, it should be SAID.
is chronic condition and may not be
remedied by a change OF ministry.
Italy's malady affects parliament and
people alike and comes of her enforced
and ill-assorted alliance with Austria.
against whom all Italy's traditions ana
interests are opposed. Trieste and
Trentin constitute old wounds. and 10
them may be added the many recent
incidents that have occurred to stir tho
national spirit. Italians have not for
gotten the kaisers sarcastic reference
to Italy's failure to follow German in
terests at Algeciras. nor Austrias re-
fusal at first. to participate in the in
ternational exhibition which is pro-
posed to be held in Rome in 1911.
In, instructive
recall a dispatch from Rome. now more
than a month old. which declared that
the Italian government had not yet mace
the slightest preparation for the exhibl,
ton, but, on the other hand, it had
voted "$3, 10000 to fortify the port of
Ancona to make it the Gibraltar of the
Adriatic'' And the dispatch further
more stated:
Every great nation except America
has promised to take part in the eX-
hibition And the Americans are wise.
For if the Italian militarist party has its
way Italy in alliance with Russia Will
be at war with Austria in 1911. and the
exhibition will be farce as to con-
cessions exploiting the victories or peace
and industry.
The dispatch added that the war party
in Italy joyfully interpreted the govern
ment's hardness in the exhibition mat
ter as an indication that war, and not
exhibition, is in the mind of government,
the recent meeting of the car and King
Victor Emmanuel at Racconigi being
cited as having strengthened the hopes
of the war party.
!, x
The foregoing dispatch, although it
claimed to have been inspired by an
officer of the general staff
Verifying of the Italian army, might
be ignored but for the fact
AAclueAt. that another incident OF
far greater Importance lends undoubted
value to it. Gen. Asinari di Berenezzo.
commanding the Sd Army Corps, address
ing the 10Th instant a new regiment from
Aquila, to which the ladies OF that city
had presented flag, said: Our tricolor-
ed flag raised over the capitol by the
virtue of the people and the king is held
aloft today by one of the most remark
able sovereigns in Europe. This SOW
ereign turns his eyes toward the east
ern frontier. beyond which he sees Italian
blDthers who await impatiently the hour
OF their deliverance. From those bar
racks there spread before you the hills
bathed with the blood of our martyrs,
and beyond those Italian lands ire
dente' tunredeemed or lacking liberty
await the hour of liberation.
This speech created immense excitement
throughout Italy and was given special
Importance from the fact. first. that
Brescia is only few hours from the AUS
trian frontier; second, because OF the high
rank of the speaker. and also that he was
the chief of the mission that received the
ear on the occasion of his recent visit.
Gen Asinari. besides, is noted as one OF
the most distinguished officers of the
Italian army; he is in no sense hot
headed man, but remarkable for GOODNESS
and discretion. Such speech from such
a man was destined to cause a shock and
a sensation.
The Messagero writes that the speech
was received with enthusiasm by the pub
lie, happy that in response to Austrian
provocations an Italian general should
have broken a humiliating silence. Ac-
cording to the Messagero, Admiral Monte
cuccoli never attended the launching of a
ship at Pola without pronouncing an ag-
gressive speech. Among the moderate
Journals. however. of the provinces and
of Rome the words attributed to Gen.
Asinari are considered as unnecessary and
would oblige the government to express
Gen. Asinari as South American Off
GER" and said that ''he had lost con-
sc 'cusness of his words and duty toward
the country
The Giornale d'Italia regrets that the
general has not understood the deli
cacy of the situation in the matter
of the Austro-Hungarian alliance.
The latter journal recounts a curious
coincidence and quotes the Vienna review.
..Die Neue Europe which published an
article from Rear Admiral Won Raiman,
in which the hypothesis of war with Italy
was discussed openly and in all its phases.
The author foresaw the Intervention of
Russia and the Balkan states. and sug-
gested that Roumania should also be
looked carefully over. because the Rouma-
Man people do not nourish the trlpllclst
tendencies of the court at bucharest. This
article, it is recalled. coming from one of
the chiefs of the Austrian navy. created a
certain impression in Italian military cir
cles
The Lokalanzeiger of Berlin writes of
the bad impression created by the speech
in Austria and thinks it will have dis
astrous results unless Italy hastens to
disavow sentiments which are alarming.
AS clearly foreseen, Gen. Asinari was
promptly required to go to Rome, where,
having confirmed his words. he was inn
mediately withdrawn from his command
and placed in retirement.
1t is no secret that the exterior policy
of Italy obeys two contradictory tenden-
cies-the governmental tendency. which
desires the maintenance of the triplice
and the popular tendency, which is hos
tile Until now the first of these two
tendencies has constantly predOminated,
and it is perhaps too early to affirm that
it will continue thus. The Asinari Incl
dent may mark the parting of the ways.