New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
~ GORDON GORDON-sMITH.

By GOKDoN hOhboN-''
Milan. March 27.-In spite OF the
abolition Of the right Of public meet
ing the agitation in favor Of war IS
hourly increasing. ! had to-day long
conversation with Signor Mussollni'
ono Of the leaders OF the "interven-
tionists" Signor Mussolini is editor
Of the widely read "Giornale PopuIo
dTtala." .
81 consider that war is inevitable
he said to me, "as I am convinced that
the negotiations OF Prince Buelow are
not sincere. The proposals he is put
ting forward are made merely to gam
time. Every day he can delay Italian
Intervention is a day gained for Ger
many. Every day that Italy maintains
neutrality thousands of tons OF food
stuffs and munitions of war are beng
poured into Germany through Italian
ports. This source Of supply Will stop
the day Italy ceases TO be neutral. In
the meantime the German Ambassador
homes that some brilliant German VIC
tory may so change the military situa-
ton as TO cause Italy TO hesitate TO
intervene.
THAT the proposals Prince Buelow
has made. or rather is alleged TO nave
made, to Signor Salandra nave the
slightest chance Of satisfying ltallan
aspirations ! do not for one moment
believe. Nothing less than the cedlng
of Trieste TO Italy will satisfy US, ana
! am convinced that if ever, par lmpos-
sible, Austria should be willing, 70
grant this, Germany herself would De
the first to oppose II. But there II
nothing to show that Austria IS even
a consenting party to the present
pourparlers. On the contrary every
thing goes to show that the Ballplatz
is absolutely firm in regard 10 cedlhS
even a part Of the Trentno.
AS the Italian Chamber has now ad-
iourncd. Signor Salandra has now
free hand. untrammelled until after
Easter by any parliamentary control.
What his reasons are for thus drag
cling out the negotiations and making
the proposals of Prince Buelow state
secret do not know. but his extreme
reticeuce does not make "A good impress
sion either in the Chamber or on the
public. ,
"Signor Salandra, as a politician. does
not inspire universal confidence. There
is fear that in his effort TO out
mannuvre Germany and Austria IN the
field Of diplomacy he may let slip the
favorable opportunity for enforcing the
legitimate claims Of Italy. The pres
enca of Signor SonninO as Minister OF
Foreign Affairs is probably the chief
reason for confidence in the Cabinet.
SignOr Salandra is an advocate and a
professor Of law. and as such little
too much inclined TO be doctrlnalre and
TO attach undue Importance TO mere
diplomatic formula.
1T NAV. of course, be that, from a
military point Of view, Italy has as
much interest as Germany IN gaming
time. On this point the general pub
lie can, Of course. form no opinion;
that can only be decided by the mill
tary authorities. But If this IS the
case il is a state Of things that ought
not to exist. The army, / understand,
ia in an extremely efficient condition.
The cause championed in a war with
Austria is one for which every ltal-
ian will fight to the last.
las | have said, regard war as in
evitable. and if when the Chamber
meets IN May Slgnor Salandfa is not
in a position to make a satisfactory
declaration as regards concessions by
Austria nothing can prevent Italian in
tervention, and ! do not believe that
he will be in a position to do so. The
chief danger at present is that events
are moving so rapidly that the Prime
Minister may any day find himself face
to face with some 'fait accomplI that
may upset all his calculations. This
is the danger which SignOr Salandra IS
running by conducting his negotiations
with such excessive slowness and such
excessive secrecy
Signor Mussolini informed me that
the German Embassy in Rome was
making as desperate efforts to inhu-
ence Italian public opinion as the en-
bassy in Washington was doing in eX-
crting influence in America. Prince
Buelow has been pouring out money
like water on every possible form Of
pro-German propaganda. but so far his
success has been less than nil. The
sole result of his effort to push the
German point of view down ltaly's