New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-02
ITALIANS WANT PEACE
Intellectual Class, Owning the
Newspapers, Alone Wants War.

] 1
Sir: To look Mt the most OF tho American
newspapers. Il seems that the majority OF the
Italian people is crying for war TO redeem
the Italians under tho Austrian rule. But il
is not So The Italian people, as a ma ority.
nre acnnst any war. and they are powerless to
express their feeling The only class In Italy
that wishes war IL the intellectual class, own
ing most Of the Italian newspapers and other
means OF war propaganda. The italian pso-
pl. stand for peace. in spite Of tho largo
campaign for the war mado by the national
stlc element that IS guilty OF having driven
Italy to the Abyssnis and Tripolitsn wars,
which tho people remember with tho greatest
bitterness.
Although there arc IN Italy two parties In
favor Of neutrality, each one stands for
different point of view. The clerical party Is
in favor OF T. because Of religious reasons
that make the clerical hate any war, and a
few nre for a regard toward Austria the most
clerical country In the world. Tho socialists
are IN favor Of neutrality because OF their
Owe for Justice, humanity, liberty and the
rights of the people; a watchful neutrality
however. which wopld keep the country ready
TO fight when any country would attempt her
integrity.
| The socialists are now sighting one OF their
greatest battles. They said in their mass
meetings throughout the country what the
duty Of Italy should be. I suppose they are
now losing. but that defeat will be the begin
ming Of many victories. The Italian social
ist, said that the duty Of Italy now was to
90 operate for the establishment OF peace
They said that Italy and the United States
should enter among the belligerent countries
not for war, but 20 impose peace and give
halt to the terrible slaughter. They said
that Italy and the United States should at
right moment enter among the warning ma
tons and impose the conditions of peace
based on the respect OF the right OF nation
atty and gradual decreasing Of military ex-
'penscs. which for so many years so heavily
crievcd the people Of any country. That Is
.,bc chief socialis, standpoint, which deem Is
near 70 fail
DO not want to say anything about the
Italians under the Austrian rule. do not
say IL they wish or DO not wish to join the
Italian kingdom, because any thesis may be
wrong: but that is no matter for the Italian
statesmen; they ask for compensation for
the damage received by the violation Of the
status quo Of the Balkans On that point
former Premier Giolitti said it would be bet
Ger 20 accept the Austrian offers and avoid
the evil Of war which, even victorious, would
cost n great deal OF money and lives. and no
,.iCforv viii be great enough TO alleviate the
grief and sorrow Of p million mothers VINO
ofI place the responsibility on the war Tor
the loss of their sons on the battlefelds.
The Italians in favor of the war say that
rtsly Is going TO war for civilization and
AGAINST barbarism. 10 defeat Germany and
Austria because these countries invaded Bel
gium and Serbia. They wish war on Austria
and Germany because of their invasion IN
Belgium and Serbia. | say that the invasion
Of these countries is very barbarlc act, Dut
do not understand how Italy can declare
war for that. and what is her right? | con-
e;dcr that If Italy declares war on Austria
and Germany for those invasions war would
be on in almost the whole world forever.
reorct the invasion Of those little countries,
bgt blame neither Austria nor Germany; !
blame war War and people who want war
arc guilty % these invasions.
suppose they will declare war in defence
of Serbia and Belgium as a punishment 20
Germany and Austria. Why do those gentle
men not declare war on England for what She
did in the Transvaal, Egypt and India; on
Russia for what she did in Poland, Finland
and Persia; on France for what she did in No
rocco Tunis and Algeria on Turkey for what
sbe did in Armenia, Macedonia and Greece;
on tho same Belgium for what she did In the
Congo. and on the same Italy for what she
did in TriDoli? These countries | have just
mentioned. and especially those that claim to
roht for civilization. have done the same and
many times worse than what Germany and
Austria are now doing.
Tha. = my idea on the matter. ! consider
hat no country is entitled to interfere IT
another country's policy and not able 10 judge
the acts Of another country so far as those
acts do not put in danger its own interests.
: Nv wishes are that war may be a failure.
I desire that all the belllgerent countries be
beaten and no one be victorious. That would
oe the best solution and would awake the peo-
olo and agitate them against the rulers OF
heir countries, and be once and forever the
end - militarism.
close. my dear editor, but before finish
lot mo salute the United States government
FOR it's fair international politics and its deep
love Of peace. and let me Furthermore wish
= American people able enough 10 impose peace
on the belligerent nations, an imposition that
would be in behalf Of the people and for the
good of the people war Il uec9areu'
T IConsummatum est!
DUIIIO MASSACCESL
New York, May %, 1915.