Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-26

ITS Determination not to make the ces-
sion effective before the end OF the
war: While admitting the pos
| sloiltty OF recognizing some Of our in
terests of Avlona and granting terri
torial cession in the Trentlno. the Aus
tro-Hungarian government persisted in
| Its opposition to all our other demands
especially those regarding the bound
airy of the Isonzo. Trieste and the
| islands.
1.-THE attitude assumed by Austria.
Hungary made 1t evident that she was
attempting to temporiae without com
| Ing to conclusion. Under such circun-
stances italy was confronted by the
danger OF losing forever the oppor-
tunity of realizing her aspirations
based upon tradition, nationality and
her desire for safe position on the
Adriatic, while other contingencies in
the European conflict menaced hor
principal interests In other seas Hence,
Italy faced the necessity and duty Of
: recovering that liberty OF action to
which she was entitled, and of seeking
protection for her interests apart from
the negotiations which had been drag
cling uselessly along for five months
and without reference to the treaty Of
alliance which virtually had failed as
result of Its annullment by the ac-
ton of Austria Hungary in July, 1914.
ANCIENT GRIEVANCES
ARE REVIVED IN ITALY
1T would not he out OF place to OBJ
serve that the alliance having terminal
ed. and there existing no longer any
reason for the Italian people TO be
bound by 1T there naturally re-
vived in the public mind the grievances
against Austria Hungary which for so
many years had been voluntarily re-
pressed
while the treaty of alliance con-
tanned no formal agreement for the use
OF the Italian language or the main
tenancc of Italian tradition and Italian
civilization in the Italian provinces OF
Austria, nevertheless. II the alliance
was to he effective in preserving peace
and harmony it WAS indisputahly clear
that Austria Hungary. as our ally.
should have taken into account the
moral obligation of respecting what
constituted some OF the most vital in
forests of Italy.
Instead. the constant policy of the
Austto hungarian government was to
destroy Italian nationality and Italian
civilization all along the coast of the
Adriatic a brief statement will suf-
Ace: substitution OF officials of the
Italian race by officials of other ma
tionalities; artificial immigration of
hundreds Of families OF different ma
tionality; replacement of Italian by
other labor: Standardization OF the
judicial administrations: refusal Of Aus
Trieste. which formed the subject of dip
lomatic negotiat lions: encourage ment OF
other nationalities 10 the detrimcnt OF
the Italian and finally the methodical
and unjusttfable expulsion of Italians
in ever-increaSing numbers
ATTITUDE is INSPIRED
HI SENTIMENT OF HOSTILITY
This deliberate and persistent policy
Of the Austro- Hungarian government
with reference to the Italian population
was not only due to Internal conditions
brought about by the competition of
the different nationalities within It's
territory. but was inspired In part by
a deep sentiment OF hostility and aver
sion toward Italy. which prevailed par
ticularly in the quarters closest TO the
Austro- Hungarian government and in
nuenced decisivcly its course OF action.
or the many Instances which could be
cited II Is enough to say that In 1911
while Italy was engaged In war with
Turkey, the Austro- Hungarian general
stan prepared campaign against US,
and the military party prosecuted ener-
geticany a political intrigue designed
TO draw In other responsible elements
of Austria. The mobilization of an
army upon our frontier left us in no
doubt OF our neighbours sentiment and
intention. The crisis was settled
pacihcally through the influence, so far
as known, of outside factors, but since
that time we have heen constantly un-
der apprehension OF sudden attack
whenever the party opposed to us,
should get the upper hand in Vienna
"All of this was known in Italy. and
.uzyzr