The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04

~ HANS PDLAENY1,
Asstro-HsaGasiaa Vee-Csnsul AZ
Cleveland. OhAs.
TT n now seven months since We
read In the papers editorials and
j kilograms to the effect that Italy
- mobllixng, that her people de-
mand war with Austria Hungary and
that war 70 shortly going to b de-
clarod. And Yet italy is q member Of
the Triple Alliance and the idea Of
her attacking her ally Of thirty.two
yearS standing does not seem either
logical or ethical.
1t h time for us to form . clear
idea on the subject.
That Italy should have mobifized
he: army is only natural. for every
European neutral nation bordering on
belligerent countries has done II In
order to safeguard it, neutrality.
Swtserland. Holland, Denmark and
Sweden have done it--why not italy
There can be nothing alarming in this
safety measure.
But what about 1taly's hatred
against Austria, deep rooted In history
~ they say? Any one who knows
Italy can say that italy a. . nation
does not hate Austria. II Is true.
however. that In the lower classes
there 10 . good deal q an old III feel
Jag against Austria left, and Il Ia
equally true that In spite Of the many
points Of common interest between
Italy and Austria there ase certain
questions where they are A& variance.
As . matter Of fact there arc no two
allies in the world who would not
have this handicap.
But what about the old erudge.
how far does 1t exist and how far Is
IL justified? With the weakening Of
the power Of the Emperors Of the
Holy Roman Empire at the end Of the
thirteenth and the fourteenth CEN
fury the italian cities and princes
holding originally fefs from the sue
selves independent. warred against
one another and became an easy prey
to French and Spanish encroach-
ments. Northern italy and Lombardy
in particular frequently changed
hands between the Bourbons and
Hapsburgs until in 1915 Austria OBJ
tanned. after the liquidation Of the
Napoleonic Empire, Lombardy and
Venetia as a compensation for Bel
gium. which she had held for 100
years and which was incorporated by
the Congress Of Vienna Of 1915 into
the Kingdom Of Holland.
The governmental policies Of Met
ternich. the Austrian Chancellor. di-
nd hn 81
at all costs and against revolutionary
movements that might revive the
hardships brought upon Europe by the
French Revolution and aiming at the
repression Of any liberal and consti-
tutional movements that might lead
up to them. were practised In Italy
M we'll as In Germany and All prov
inces In possession OF the court Of
Vienna.
AS the countries recuperated from
the terrible wars that he'd ended In
rose high against the police govern
ment Of Metternich and led to the
revolutions all over Europe, even in
Vienna in 1s4s. While Prussia and
Russia stood by Austria in Germany
and Hungary King Charles Albert
Of Sardinia and Piedmont supported
the revolutionary movements in Italy.
He was defeated In a campaign last
ing but nine days, and the revol,i-
tionary outbreaks directed against
Austria and the Italian princes were
quelled shortly by the Government Of
Vienna.
Reaction set in on the whole line,
and was no more hateful to the Ital-
ians than to the other nations. for
II was more a principle OF adminis-