The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-13
So Far as Present War is Con-
cerned, According TO Ad-
dress by Premier.

ROME. Dec, 1.3-Primer Salandra
made a speech at Turin the other day
in which he said two words that
summed UP ltaly's purposes in the
present European conhict-nationa
aspirations. These two words use
worth remembering by any one who
wishes TO understand Italy's role in
the present conflict, and how II differs
from that Of England. France, Russia
and the other parties to tho great
struggle.
Premier Salandra spoke at the
moment the Balkan situation was alb
sorbing the attention of the world, but
he did not mention the Balkans. II
Serbia or Belgium or Poland has been
uppermost IN The public mind he doubt
lcSs would have passed that over too
without mention. for the keynote Of
Salnndra and Italy In this war is not
Belgium or Serbia or the Balkans or
any other altruistic purpose. but al
ways and distinctly tho fulnlIment Of
itaIy'S national aspirations"
New Parties and Leaders.
This policy OF selling the present
moment, when all Europe Ii at war,
for realizing ltaly's aspirations. has
swept aside old parties and leaders
and brought new ones on the stage
II has given name TO a new party,
the nationalist. which is an extreme
section of this policy of realizing
ilaly's national aspirations. and 1t has
founded a newspaper In Rome. the
Idea %aziOnale, whose name again
prOclaims this fundamental idea Of
Italian policy. the realization Of ma
tional aspirations. None OF the En-
tonte powers had any distinct national
aspirations Leading them to enter the
war, and they were moved consider
ably by humanitarian and altruistc
ends. And that is where ltaly's policy
differs fro mall others. as II is in this
war chiefly TO realize its national as
pirations.
First and foremost of these aspira-
tons Is to get back ltaly's two lost
provinces IN the north-Trent in the
West, and The rich strategic country
north Of vonice. sweeping around the
head OF the Adiatic down TO Trieste.
These two provinces are the Alsace
and Lorraine Of Italy They arc essen
tally Italian; all the people speak
italian: the Italian laws make them
Italian citizens II they come TO Italy:
one OF the members Of the Italian
cabinet is from these lost provinces
and yet is an Italian citizen and
cabinet adviser Of the king. Italy
has deeply PRESENTED the loss OF these
two provinces ever since they passed
N al ne CIt,iu
Iirst Trent during the Napoleonic cam
palgns. and later the upper Adriatlc
country during the war with Austria
in 1866 II has always aspired to
get them back. but il remained for
the present war to mould this scnti-
mcnt into an irresistible movement
Of national aspirations"
Wants Shorthand Strip.
But llaly's national aspirations do
not end with getting back its lost
provinces. just across the Adriatic
lies lstria. tkat great stretch OF coun-
try which used 10 he Roman pro-
vince and later was part OF the ycnr- /,
tian republic. Italy does not forget (
that this valuable Shorthand along the (
eastern Adriatic was once Italian. and |
again he Italian And beyond that
lies the Aegean islands. and the route
TO the East, with Italy as the great
power lying nearest this dazzling field, .
and the great power having the largest
coast line on the Mediterranean.
In this. too. Italy does NOT forget
that old Rome was mistress Of the 7
East and West. and that a Roman
emperor. Constantine. founded Con-
stantnoplc and gave il his name
These aspirations are vagcly defined
and are not distinct part OF tho
present national aspiration movement. j
hut they all 80 together in tho popular
hopes and dreams of an expanding and
greater Italy.
German influence Disappears.
The most notable feature OF this
new movement OF national aspiration
is the sudden disappearance OF Ger
man prestige and influence. For years
Germany had been building up a CON-
handing position in the commercial,
financial and industrial affairs OF Italy.
The Triple Alliance was the political
bond. but German business men we're
doing more than the politicians