The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11
Why Italy Changed From
Her Early Neutrality

because they feared they could not
a majority in Parliament
enough to Justify them in pur-
suing their policy OF war against Aus
tria. The national results were great
popular demonstrations throughout
Italy.
In Rome these al first took the form
OF anti-German demonstrations OF a
riotous nature. The streets
were filed with heavy squads OF cav
airy and infantry and there were
brushes with mobs demonstrating
against German shops or trying to
get near the German or Austrian con
srlates or embassies. Some slight
damage was done to property, very
much less than ! saw IN Paris In Aug
ust, but IL was not necessary to fire,
and so far as ! could learn no for
eigner WAS injured. The same thing
was true @: Naples. where I spent two
days.
The house where I went in Rome on
my return to the capital was near
Giolitti's. Nearly all Friday night I
was kept awake by ire roar Of tbs
mob, the sharp rattle Of moving
SluduS VI cavalry hlu liz CIdSu VI
the casual brlckbat through toe
tempting street lamps. Saturday
morning brought strong appeals from
Government and press for dignity and
public order and henceforth the
Roman demonstrations lost entirely
their rlotous touch. and the task of
the soldiers who yawned in the court
yards or slept on the curbstones be-
side their horses near the German
and Austrian embassies became a
sinecure.
on Sunday. May 16. I saw in Rome
a most imposing popular demonstrs-
ton. A crowd OF over 100000,
mostly men. moved from the Piazzs
del Popolo to the Quirinal. They has
not that capacity for quick organisa.
ton so notable in any American
crowd. a capacity which most Italians
will tell you with a smile Is lackins
in Italy. They were therefore unable
to form or keep regular ranks.
They came along filling the middo
Of the street and both sidewalks. roll.
ing forward with a sluggish motion
like the current OF some deep, slow
river. But while there was no orde'
there was nothing like disorder.
Women and children were moving
safely in the crowd. II was an exhl-
b,tion OF quiet and restrained deter
mlnation which one could hardly have
expected Of the mercurial italian tenn
permanent.
The press reported great demons,ra-
tons all over italy in favor OF the
Salandra Ministry. which meant in
favor Of war. The next morning l
could not ind anybody in Rome who
doubted what Italy would do. Ger
tainly the demonstrations were suffi-
Client to convince both parties in the
silent strife for the control Of the
Government which had been going on
that the nation had spoken.
The King, who meanwhile had vainly
offered the task OF forming a new
government 10 various prominent men.
announced that he refused to accept
the resignation OF the Salandra Min
istry. Giolitti left Rome, doubtless
because ne had convinced himself that
most Of his former followers in Parlia-
ment would no longer support him
against Salahdra, the King and the
bulk OF the nation.
This exhibition OF feeling. which has
been taken as a decisive expression
Of the national will by the controlling
factors in the Government, was only
the elimination OF a progressive
change Of popular opinion. on Janu-
airy : the Austrian Ambassador, re-
turning from Vienna to Rome. re-
---t a., &c.. -
noticed n greater inclination toward
war in Italian public opinion than
when he left in December. Sonnino
replied hat he was mistaken. The
pubic was accepting the programme
Of neutrality as the one best fitted
to support certain national aspira-
lions. Green Book No. 10.) Two
months later the resultant of the cross
currents of public opinion was flowing
plainly toward war. and In May II was
ready for the convincing demonstra-
ton.
1t must be remembered that up to
May 20 the facts in regard to the
diplomatic negotiations were unknown
to the public. In December the ma
tional aspiration concerning Trent,
Trieste and the Adriatic) was GER
tainly not strong enough to have made
Parliament vote explicitly for war. and
a frank OFFER OF cesslons from Austria
would probably have sealed Italy's
neutrality. Four elements seem to me
TO have reinforced the power of these
national aspirations and brought Italy
into a war supported by national feel
ing.
BY the middle Of the spring the ac-
celeratlon OF the military preparations,
which however quietly carried out
could not be concealed from general
knowledge. suggested that the situa-
ton was In some way dangerous. In
the first half OF May il began to be
generally believed that Italy had
withdrawn from the Triple Alliance.
(She had done so on the 4th Of
May. The conclusion lay near that
the Government must have immedi-
ately entered into some sort OF rela-
ton with the Allies. for it was not
thinkable that any Government would
take the risk OF remaining entirely
isolated in such a crisis.
When the meeting OF Parliament
was postponed the public was filled
with the suspicion that Italy was in
n position Of n who had treated with
both sides and broken with btoh sides,
"A position which exposed her without
any good defence to the charge that
she had played fast and loose all round
and was worthy OF general contempt.
. NIT, f.. ,La. .l- -,