Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-12
WHY THE ITALIANS
HATE THE GERMANS
Parts of Italy Have Been Overrun by
Visitors From North Who Prove Any
thing But Neighborly in Their Ways.

thing But Neighborly in Their Ways.
| CEVERAL years ago an American, who
| - was making his first trip to Italy, fell
into conversation with German fellow
traveller on the subject of beggars. His read
| Ing of Baedeker and other authorities had
convinced him that from the moment the
| ship reached Naples his life would be made
| miserable by swarms of repusive men,
women and children soliciting, almost de-
manding. aims. AS a matter of fact, he was
less troubled, even in Naples than he had
| often been In New York. But at the time
he was greatly pleased to discover an easy
means of protection "You speak German
well enough to be taken for one of us-at
least by an Italian" said his candid acquain-
tance. $50 If you are troubled by beggars
just reply in German. They will run from
you as from the plague. We Germans are
not popular in Italy" The American was
duly grateful for the hint, and on the one
occasion when he followed it he found that it
worked like a charm.
To say that the Italians hate the Germans
is hardly putting 1t too strongly. 1t is a
different kind of hatred from that which
they feel for the Austrans. The latter is
more historical than personal. Were Italy
in possession of Italia Irredenta indeed, it
would doubtless become in time a merely
traditional sentiment, like that which was
so long fostered by Americans against the
British. The Austrians are a much pleas
anter people than the Germans, and they
have more in common with the Italians
With all their fine qualities the Germans
cannot be called adaptable. Even in this
country. where they become citlzens-and
the best of citizens-they keep their ma
tional and racial traits with great tenacity
And they are more nearly akin to us than
to the Italians When, therefore, they settle
in Italy they are very distinctively strangers
In strange land-though they may sing
the song Of Zion almost too loudly. In other
words, they have not the tact to consider
Italian sensibilities. The Italians are nat
urally grateful people. They do not for
get that Germany, as we'll as England and
France, had a hand i'm the achievement OF
Italian unity. They would love the Germans
if they could, as they love the English and
in less degree the French. But the Ger
mans irritate them by condescending and
supercilious attitude toward Italy and every
thing Italian.
Control Many Banks
German enterprise and German money, to
be sure, have done much for Italy. The
much visited Island OF Capri Is a familiar
illustration of this fact The present inhab-
itants are largely German, and they have
carried out all sorts of improvements with
truly German efficiency. The Italian Riviera
Is another spot where this efficiency has
been manifested. Then, too, the Germans,
with their wonderful aptitude for business,
have invested large sums in Italian under
takings; they control. for example, many
OF the banks, as well as the chief steam
ship companies. This dominance has been
shaken recently and probably the war will
put an end to 1t. But all the advantages,
and they many, which have come to
Italy from German enterprise have not suf-
feed to allay this fundamental antagonism.
The German would be obnoxious II only
for the reason that he Is not "simpatieo."
Add to that a fear Of his economic ana po-
litieal supremacy and the cause Of the ao-
tud hatred which exists is plain.
Probably there was never any chance that
the Triple Alliance would be unbroken in
time OF war Even Bernhard, in his now
famous book pointed out that the weakness
OF the Alliance was its purely defensive
charaeterp-a statement worth considering
In connection with the German assertion OF
the obligations OF italy IN the present war.
And he urged that. as England stood IN the
way Of Italian ambitions IN the AIediter-
ranean. Germany should reconcile Italy and
Turkey ana act as Italian champion against
both England and France. That would have
been a wiser ana more ineligible policy
than the one Germany pursued when Italy
took Tripoh Had she wanted 70 throw
Italy into the arms OF her foes she could
hardly have acted differently. Even II the
Germans had been better liked the Italians
would have had no enthusiasm for the work
81 pulling the KaiseFa chestnnts out OF the
hre.
Too selEcenlrod
one serious mistake which the Germans
have made 10 their dsalings with the Ital-
lanz . no natural result 81 shat may be