Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-23

1t has not. as yet, brought It's horrors
TO our borders. will, In it's final results,
directly affect us. Tho isolation of
peace. In which. seeking to escape
murco ourselves can never isolate US
from the world Italy will feel Tho
political effects Of the war: Just as
to-day, even In peace. she is suffering
from It's disastrous economic effects.
By proclaiming neutrality. italy has
given evidence to the world OF an in
| tontlon OF keeping peace and OF an
absence OF any irnperialistic program
| OF expansion. Italy desires only to
live, and to keep what she has. But
her possessions. and, still more, her
present situation, Will be secure only
80 long m her actual territorial In
tegrity Is respected. Tho states that
! surround our country and maintain
the balance of power really determine
our situation: thcsc states cannot fall
or change. without Immediately snen-
nctng our status. and imposing upon
us grave new problems for the flu
turc. 1t does not seem that tho Eu-
ropean war is a menace to our status
TO tho west and north: on the contrary.
II fs advancing toward our borders
from tho cast. 1t Is tho Adriatic prob.
lem of the italian provinces which,
comes up sharply.
Tho Adrlatic problem is a part. or
II
Itaiy's whole Mediterranean problem.
II is impossible to imagine II pacific
expansion OF the civilization and COM
mcrco OF Italy In the Mediterranean,
III her problems in the Adrintic ara
not solved-that is. II her shores arc
not secure.
Now. Austria is ut war with two
Slav states: these Slav states no long
er conceal tho Adriatic program which
stands as the goal of their hitherto
victorious action. The Russians arc
advancing. and presY upon Austria
with the irresistible MASS OF their
army. The late battles. without being
decisive. have already scored ,ro.
mendous defeat for Austria.
II three provinces of Italian race
are in danger of being lost forever;
II, by not participating In the war.
Italy finds herself threatened in tho
Adriatic: II She Is to be cut off from
all possibility OF economic. political
and commercial development In the
Mediterranean. Italy cannot remain
Indifferent. An Italy reduced to such
conditions without hope OF help Or
support either from Germany or from
England, exposed both to the anger
of France md of Austria, would SEQ
her reason for existing in the world
singulnriy diminishcd; and. indeed, her
life within her own boundaries would
be virtually nnnihiIated.
Itnly's Enormous Stakes.
For Italy the whole gamo OF the
Adriatlc Is at stake. To lose. means
not only tho final loss OF precious
and sacred national pntrimony. md.
the reconciliation OF our long inherited
duty to maintain our civilization upon
the opposite shore, but it means,
moreover. losing all the practical and
political advantages which that patri-
mony represents. and driving our
country. after European war which
has kept her III mortal anxiety. into
| n now, acute and desperate struggle.
The first formula of Russia and of
the triple entcnte-thc minimum RUS
sian prog!ram-prcservo the interests
OF both Italy and Servia, and oven
conciiiates them amicably.
Tho solution OF the new problems
raised by the course of tho war stands
at tho door OF the future history OF
Italy.