The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-14

P"N' NeV'o espnt'N ~ "
ROME, Dec. i3.-The following Is the
first and only interview granted by u
member of the italian Cabinet since
the beginning OF the war. Salvatore
Barzllai. who gave the interview to the
correspondent OF THE Sun, is the Gov
ernor.General Of the conquered Aus
trian territory and has been a MEM
Der OF the Cabinet since July. lilo Is a
Republican Deputy from Rome.
Signor Barzilai said
Although ] am opposed to giving
interviews, which heretofore | have re-
FUSED. l am now making an exception
In order to avail myself of the oppor-
tuniby Of offering evidence to the peo-
pie OF great, free America of the unln-
terrupted unity. strength. enthusiasm
faith and stern serenity OF the Italian
people.
Perhaps We did not know ourselves
certainly foreign peoples did not know
US we'll. But now they should know
The true attitude and the moral stand
ing OF the entire people, irrespective
OF regions and classes.
h a nation Is 50 united and de-
termined after six months OF IA hard
and weary!ng war which Is not nearing
an end affords proof Of a matured CIV
iIiEation which has been acquired In a
comparatively short time. We are justi-
Fed In being conferred by such proof
because We are fighting a real national
war. sprung from the ideals and his
torical traditions Of our people, who
sui are daily made to realize that II
was an indispensable necessity. The
masses are now convinced hat no other
choice wa left TO Italy but war. Those
In duty bound TO watch Austria knew
that even during the life OF the Triple
Alliance Austria multiplied the terrible
perfls Inherent In our unnatural from
tier which favored her and menaced
the security and independence of the
peninsula
Austrian Dangers Cited.
During the war the improved Aus
trian defences have reyealed the urgent
danger which threatened us while peace
loving italian statesmen strovs TO dlmin-
ish and If possible to avert entirely the
long sta nding dissensions which the Aus
TRANS systematically renewed and EN-
Differed. Austria, meanwhile. was Wild
ening tho roads for the invasion of
Italy. Had she been able che would
have waited for an upportune moment
for this aggression, when she was fully
strengthened and fortified and we were
defenceless.
War was n voidablc wins to the
perfidy of our former ally. Full revela-
ions Of this periidy, | esides completing
the unity OF the Italian people, relieves
US OF the charge Of d~isloyalty. We are
accused OF taking up arms against a
Power with which We were linked in
alliance. The letter and spirit of the
alliance implicitly II explicitly bound
Austria not to alter the status quo in
the Balkans for her own benefit, The
invasion of Serbia. therefore. was a
fragrant violation Of the Triple Alliance.
which We had accepted and renewed In
the interest OF peace and for he de-
fence Of Italy's position OF the Adriatic,
Our refusal to participate in a war de-
liherately provoked by the Central EN-
p!res was both our right and our duty
our right. because the alliance unde-
niably had been violated. our duty. be
cause we could not consent TO reuuuuC-
ing what we had claimed and stipulated.
But apart from the correctness OF
our conduct what proof is available OF
the loyalty Of Austria who, during the
life of the alliance concentrated her e.
forts upon her military power for Use
against Italy and prepared and hoped
for our destruction as Is evidenced by
the forts accumulated in the mountains
OF the Trentino and on the banks Of the
I~sonzo. against which the Italian sol
diers have been admirably n persist
entity struggling for six months?
\ other army. even during the pres