New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-25
Collapse of Austria as
Military Power Great
est Feature of War.
SHALL BE CRUSHED
AS MENACE TO PEACE
Interview with First Lord of
Admiralty Sanctioned
Officially.
IRy Cahln TO The Tribune.

London, Sept. 24.-Considersbl in
terest and no little controversy have
been aroused by an interview recently
given by Winston Churchill, First Lord
of the Admiralty, to the London cor
respondent of "The Giornale Dltalis," /"
in which Mr. Churchill says that the
new map of Europe must be set
tied on national lines and accord
ing to the wishes Of the peoples
in the disputed areas. The in
terview has received official sanction.
As the interview seems likely to play
some large part in the eventual discus
sion arising out of the war, it will be
interesting to American readers.
Mr.. Churchill said:
I'VE want this war TO settle the
map of Europe on national lines, and
according to the true wishes Of the
peoples who dwell in the disputed
areas.
after all the blood that is being
shed, We want a natural and har"
monious settlement, which liberstes
races, restores the integrity of nations,
subiugates no one and permits a gen.
uine and lasting relief from the waste
and tension of armaments under which
we suffered q. 80 long. Some dav the
natural and true frontiers of Italy
must be restored. There will never be
real peace and comfort until then.
AS long as Austria has the power
TO squander thousands OF Italian lives
in auarrels Of her ambition, as long as
she holds in her grip and bondage fair
provinces and numerous populations
which are Italian heart and soul and
bone md nature, there will always be
armament and counter armament, fear,
tension and intrigue, and always
danger of this horrible catastrophe re-
occurring.
"Let us make an end of it now. Let
us have a fair and natural adjustment
of European boundaries.
LET US war against the people Of
ole set of Europeans holding down by
force and conquest, against their wills,
another section; let US reach a final
and simple solution, and let us fOrtify
and confirm the same by the law of
nations. which even the most audaciOus
will have been taught to respect"
The correspondent asked what i'm
preston was made in England and upon
the British government by the Italian
declaration of neutrality.
I'VE always thought it was i'm
possible for Italy to fight with Austria
or to fight against England" replied
Mr.. Churchill, land in all Admiralty ar
rancements for the Mediterranean
since have been here we have always
acted on the certainty that Italy would
be neutral and measured our naval
force only against that of Austria"
There has been a great deal of talk
in Italy of the possibility of active in
tcrvention by Italy in case of change
in the Adriatic situation. Is there any
probability of a change in the Adriatic
situation in consequence of the Franco
British naval operations" ?"
"You see, the naval situation in the
Adriatic is rather like that in the
North Sea. The Austrian feet is hid
ing. 1t lies hidden in its hole, and
until it is convenient to dig it out it
is difficult to get decision. do not
see how any change in the Adriatic
situation would result from the naval
operations, but the great changes that
will come will result from the collapse
of Austria on land.
"The greatest feature yet apparent in
the course Of the war is the collapse
of Austria as 4 military factor. That
collapse appears TO be irreparable, and
that is a tremendous event In the his
tory Of the world"
"Do you think il probable that there