New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-16
ITALY'S PROBLEM
Recent Editorial Expression Does MOI
Take Account Of Its Completely.

axe Account or It's SOmplcxlty.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Much misinformation has appeared
of late in editorial comments and in free
contributions to the Americans press regard
ing the attitude Of Italy in the present Euro
pean crisis. The conclusions arrived at are
generally faulty, because they do not take
account Of all the elements that render the
Italian psychology OF to-day complex.
In the first place, it is not correct to as
sumo that the agitation of irredentism is
kept up from within the boundaries of the
present Italian Kingdom, and il would be
amusing il some who seem TO think that
the italians are casting longing eyes toward
certain lands outside their political boun-
darv were confronted with the facts and had
20 admit that irredentism is kept alive by
Italians and sympathizers from without, who
have to stand for much injustice and suffer
materially from the effects OF a relentless
scheme Of colonization Of those provinces
forming the irredenta. Many OF them have
chosen 70 migrate to Italy and forfeit their
rights in Austria, even TO the extent Of see
ing their property confscated.
Prompted by sense of conservation OF
their nationality as a unit, the represent
atives Of Italian extraction from those prov
inces to the Austrian Parliament are gener-
ally o-mnisterialists. True in Istria,
Carniola and Dalmatia a large part of the
population Is Slav, but its civilization is Ital-
ian, and only Of late years the German mark
has been impressed upon them. But it is
r l. L J.. 49,
greater Italian kingdom they would pre-
sent a problem similar TO that OF Alsace
Lorraine, because by temperament Latin and
Slav are much nearer than some would like
to concede.
| will add that irredentsm until lately was
opposed in Italy by the most radical political
parties. On the racial problem is superim
posed the political problem, as rejecting the
movements and aspirations that have their
source in the policies of the Continental cabi-
nets. The annexation Of part Of those lands
forces itself on the Italian programme as
necessary to the conservation OF the nations
very life.
The trouble with Italy is that owing 70 the
prevailing system of manipulating elections
in order to insure majorities to the govern
ment there has not been evolved a statesman
worthy of the name Among the crowd of
politicians there is not statesman capable
of visualizing the situation and Of clearly
exposing in crystallized, form what most Ita-
ians feel and think. By reason of the multi
form elements that enter into Italian poll
tics the Italian statesmen, concerned chiefly
with the conservation OF the State, are com
mitted to a policy of caution which counsels
the utmost parsmony in giving expression
TO their opinions, and TO the uninitiated the
sum total OF the public utterances of Ital-
ian politicians most heard about would con-
vey the impression that the Italians are at
tempting TO take advantage Of the present
snarled situation in sn effort to pull off by
a substantial bargain. They are
not aware that the problem which is so prom.
inently to the fore to-day was not created
by the present European crisis, but already
existed, and that the Italians would be much
wiser If they did not so strenuousy venti-
late 1t at this time. because it is one of those
questions which is bound to solve itself in
but one way
To persons not acquainted with the Italian
character it may seem perhaps that we are a
callous lot, without feeling or dignity, be
cause the very dttcuty OF the present stu
alton makes it highly impolitic for Italian
public men 70 give expression TO the humani-
tartan sentiments that are surely greatly felt
by all of sympathy with Belgium and Serbia
Utterances Of that kind would tend TO com
NIT the nation to a policy of action the out
come OF which cannot be forccasted, but
which might plunge Italy and Europe in
greater sea OF woe than We already witness
FREDERICK BRACCO.
New York. April 10. 1915.