Arizona republican., 1911-10-05
Sensitive Italy.

Through the Associated Press the
Italian government makes it known
that its seizure Of Tripol is in pur-
suance Of an agreement reached ten
years ago by the members of the
triple alliance-Germany, Austria and
1taly-and that the arrangement of
that time had the approval of France
and Great Britain.
This explanation lifts the veil
from a situation which has puzzled
the world since the declaration of
war against Turkey by Italy. 1t
seemed absurd that Italy should dare
To enter upon a war which might
embroil the whole of Europe. unless
it had satisfactory assurances from
some Of the powers, at least, that
its scheme Of highway robbery would
not be opposed. Without prear-
rangement for the approval of the
other powers, Italy was entering upon
a war which very probably would
result in an uprising OF all the Bal
kan states against Turkey. and the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Turkish en-
pire in the event of Italian triumph
And in no capital of Europe is II as
sumed that the spoils could be ap-
pOrtioned among the European ma
tions without war among them. Con-
=
the most dreaded of all foreign ques-
tons in Europe. Therefore, while
it was suspected that there was a
secret understanding Of some sort,
speculation took a wide range concern
ing its scope and nature Italy,
following the blunt, frank style of
diplomacy which the American gov
eminent has tried to make fashion
able, candidly announces to the
world that she is Selling Tripoli
not only with the approval of the
other European powers, but in pur-
suance of an arrangement ten years
old. Evidently the Italian govern
ment is sensitive TO the newspaper
criticisms in every civilized nation,
which have made it plain that the
worlds sense of justice has been out
ragged by the unprovoked war against
Turkey. Stung by these criticisms,
the Italian government says, in eff
feet, we do not propose to be the
goat. We do not propose that Italy
shall be denounced all over the world
as an uncivilized power, without
striking back. We take mankind into
our confidence If we are acting
tie part of a highway robber, the
other nations OF Europe are jus: IS
guilty as we, for we have long lad
a secret agreement with them that we
should do this very job And while
the semi official press of Germany
aid Austria and the newspapers of
France and England are purporting
20 feel scaLdalized, we propose TO
have it known that their governments
are fellow conspirators with us"
Nothing could more effectively
prove the fact that all the great
powers now acknowledge that there is a
fourth estate" in government: free
press. which, when it gives voice
TO the opinions Of mankind. must
be needed, than this prompt and en-
Tightening statement from the Italian |
government. Time was, not so very
long ago, when no European govern
ment would have thought it worth !
while to pay attention to the news
papers Of other lands in going to
war
Italy having made it clear that the |
concert of Europe" is not to be dis
turbed by her aggressions against
Turkey Of the old agreement is to
remain in force), the probabilities
are that the war will be of short /
duration and localized to Tripol |
Turkey will lose no other possessions.
and will receive n large cash pay
ment from Italy as compensation for
the loss Of TripOli, and provided a
general uprising OF Moslems can be
prevented by Turkey, peace will soon
be restored.