Evening star., 1915-05-29
VIOLATION OF FAITH
INSCRIBED IN BLOOD
Chancellor Won Bethmann-HoIl-
veg Thus Describes
ItaIy's Attitude.
EXCORIATES REFUSAL
OF AUSTRIAN OFFERS
German Official Declares That Teu-
ton Arms Will Conquer
World Enemies.

lated purely to the Italian situation.
the only event of the sitting being the
speech of DR.. Won Bethmann- -Hollweg,
the imperial chancellor. who dealt with
Italy's declaration of war against Aus
tria. After the speech of the chancel-
lor, the reichstag. as n mark of COM
plete assent in his views. adjourned
until today
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg's remarks
were devoted to explaining and ad-
Versely criticisinE the motives behind
the Italian declaration of war. which
he imputed to combination of mob
dictation. bad faith on the part of the
cabinet of Premier Salandra. and, to a
certain degree, to the money of the al
lied powers
Says War Was Not Wanted.
The chancellor asserted that the
greater part of the Italian people and
a majority in the Italian parliament
had not wanted war. and were even
kept In ignorance of the extent of the
willing to. make for the sake of peace
The Salandra cabinet, he said, long
before the triple alliance had ceased to
exist, aligned itself with the triple
entente, and unclaimed the mob spirit
and intimidated the advocates of peace.
Italy said the chancellor. has now
inscribed in the book of the worlds
history. in letters of blood, which will
never fail, her violation of faith No
body threatened Italy-neither Aus
tria-Hungary nor Germany. Whether
the triple entente was content with
Establishments alone, history will show
later.
Could Have Gained Concessions.
without a drop of blood flowing or
the life of a single Italian being en-
dangered. Italy could have secured the
long list of concessions which / re-
Gently read to te house-territory in
Tyrol and on the Izonso as far as
Italian speech is heard, satisfaction of
her national aspirations in Triste,
free hand in Albania and the valuable
port of Avlona.
I'VE left Rome in no doubt that an
Italian attack on the Austro-Hun-
garian troops would also strike Ger
man troops. The Italian manifesto of
war, which conceals an uneasy con-
science behind vei1ed phrases, does not
give US any explanation of which offers
were refused. They were too shy, per-
haps. to say openly what was spread
abroad as the pretext that the Austrian
offer came too late and could not be
trusted.
No Occasion for Distrust.
italian statesmen have no right to
measure the trustworthiness Of other
nations in the same proportion as they
measured their own loyalty to a treaty
Germany by her word guaranteed that
the concessions would be carried out
There was no occasion for distrust
why too late? On May Trentino
was the same territory 1t was in Feb
ruary. and the whole series OF conces-
sions had added to Trentino. 1t per-
haps was too late for the reason that.
while the triple alliance, the existence
of which the king and government had
acknowledged after the outbreak of
the war. was still alive, the italian
themselves SO deeply with the triple
entente that they could not disentangle
themselves The statesmen of Rome
played against their own people the
same game that they have played
against US.
Dream of Every Italian.
TT ID true that the Italian speaking
territory on the northern frontier al
ways has been the dream and desire of
every Italian: but great majority of
the Italian people. as well as ma jor-
ity in parliament. did not want to know
anything of war But common sense
had no say. The mob alone ruled un-
der kindly disposed toleration and with
the assistance OF the leading states
men of the cabinet. fed with the gold
of the triple entente.
This mob. under the guidance of un-
scrupulous war instigators. was reused
20 a frenzy of blood which threatened
the king with revolution and all mod
crate men with murder if they did not
Join In the war delirium. The Italian
people were Intentionally kept In the
dark with regard TO the course of the
Austrian negotiations and the extent
of the Austrian concessions. and when
the Salandra cabinet resigned no one
could be found with courage to form a
new one.
Politicians Grow Dumb.
Tn tho frenzy Of war honest poltti-
clans grew dumb. but when, as the re-
for and desire. the italian people be-
come sober again they will recognize
how frivolous II was that they were
war.
We did everything possible to avoid
the alienation of Italy from the triple
alliance. The ungrateful role fell to
rs of requiring from our loyal ally.
Austria. the purchase OF the loyalty of
the third party to the alliance by the
cession Of old-inherited territory. That
Austria Hungary went to the utmost
limit is known. Prince Won Buelow
tried by every means to come to an
understanding with Italy. Although his
work has been in vain the entire peo-
Pile are grateful to him.
Shall Endure Storm.
This storm we shall endure. From
month to month we will grow more in
innate with our ally. From the PiIica
70 Bukowina we tenaciously withstood
with our Austro- Hungarian comrades
for months the gigantic superiority OF
the enemy. Then we victoriously ad-
vanced. SO our new enemy shall per-
ish through the spirit of loyalty.
powers
In this war Turkey 10 celebrating a
brilliant regeneration. The whole Ger
man people follow with enthusiasm
the different phases Of the obstinate
contest and the manner in which the
the attacks of their enemies with
heavy blows
Against the living wall OF our war
riors in the west our enemies up tC
the present have vainly stormed. II in
some places the fighting fiuctuates. II
here and there a trench or village is
lost or won, the great attempt of our
adversaries 10 break through. which
they commenced five months ago. has
not succeeded and will not succeed
They will perish through the heroic
bravery of our soldiers.
War Waged in Anger.