Iditarod pioneer., 1915-05-01
ItaIv Plays ShreWd Game

As giving an insight into the motives back of Italys position, the following Lon don letter, published last November, is of interest at the present time:
 "The opinion is gaining ground here that of all the nations which the present Euro pean war affects, Italy has played the shrewdest game.
 'In other words, men skilled in interna tonal politics believe the Italians are being we'll paid to do exactly what it Is to thelr interest to do-keep out of the fight
 Tn actual brIk Italy has not as much to win or lose as have Great Britain, Ger many, France or Russia, but proportion ately it has more at stake. The war might easily so develop as to elevate it to a rank as important at least as that of France and of much more importance than Austria. On the other hand, if things went wrong it might lose enormously in prestige and power, though perhaps not terrltorlally
 This being the case diplomats represent ing various nations in London argue that 1t would not have been in human nature for the Italians to remain neutral if they had not received pledge that they would get what they wanted by doing so.
 Just how large these pledges are it is as vet too soon to tell It is pretty evident however, that one of them Is free hand in Albania, where, in fact, the Italian forces have already secured foothoid. Probably Italy does not want the whole country since 1t is very turbulent proposition to handle but it does want Avlona, because Avlona and Oranto constitute the gate to the Adrlatic, end Avlona it has got. It occupied the town ostensibly to keep order to be sure. but nobody has any idea that it will ever leave there voluntarily.
 Presumably, too, it has been promised all or part of Austria's Italian provinces more likely part than all, since 1t Is not very likely the Austrans would ever. ex cept under direct compulsion, give up their important port of Trieste.
 "These concessions, assuming them to have been made, have all come from Aus tria, but it is fair to presume that Germany has agreed to compensate the Hapsburg em pire for them In fact, good many people think all the Austrian territory which re mains will become part of Germany as a result of the war, and that Germany is die tating to its ally now as if it had already done so.
 Early in the war there were some pretty strong TeutOnic intmatiCns thrown out that the Italians would have to join Germany and Austria Hungary, to which 1t was bound by a treaty of alliance. or hostilltles would be declared against them. too. It was pretty clear however, that this was an emily threat, since the Teutons already had on their hands all the trouble they could take care of without adding another foe to the list unnecessarily.
 Undoubtedly Germany and Austria were very angry at the Italians for refusing to help them against the allies It was not long, however, before it became apparent that in case Italy joined Great Britain France and Russia against the Teutonic combination, practically the last straw would be laid On the latters back The Italians did, too, show strong signs of doirg just this thing. It was at this point, it is coniectured, that they received a promise of liberal territorial compensation if they would continue neutral
 1%Of course the British, French and Rus sans would rather have had Italy with them than mere onlookers, but they owe the Italians so heavy debt of gratitude for not fighting alongside the Teutons de spite the alliance which bound them to- gether, that they can hardly object to the tulhllment of any compact to Italy's ad- vantage. Thus, if the Germans win, the allies will nave nothing to say about the reward they give to Italy for preserving the peace, while if the allies win they cannot, with any kind of good grace, find fault with so natural an extension of the Italian frontier as the one which unquestionably is