New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
Won BUEL0W'S aims
STIR SWITZERLAND
Proposed Ceding of Tren-
tino to Italy Had
Precedent.
By GORDON GORDON-sMITH.

Basic, Feb. l4-An enormous sensa-
ton has been made in Switzerland by
the revelations of the Italian journal
"Stampa" regarding the aim pursued by
Prince Won Bulow, German Ambassa-
dor in Rome, in securing the continu-
snce of Italian neutrality and to rem
der it favorable 10 the cause of Ger
many and Austria Hungary. The solu-
ton indicated, namely, that Austria.
out of gratitude TO Germany for the aid
rendered during the war, should cede
Trentino to the Kaiser, and that he, in
his turn, will pass it on to Italy, is
"lchiavellian in its astuteness. Italy
would obtain the Italian provinces un-
der Austrian rule without firing a shot,
A. the same time Italy would know
that if she insisted on having more
than Trentino she would have to
fight not Austria but Germany for
them, as, of course, the last named
power would at once miitarily occupy
the coded provinces. This fact might
damp ltaly's warlke ardor.
War with Austria would be popular
in Italy, but the population has no
direct quarrel with Germany and does
not desire to come into direct conflict
with her.
Taking of Plebiscite Formally.
Then. again, there is the fact that it
/ is not the fist time that Austria has
tried to save her face by such COM
bination. In 1856, when the Prussian
victory at Sadowa neutralized the re-
suit OF the Austrian victories over the
Italians at Custozza and LISA, the
Dual Monarchy coded Nenitia, not to
italy but to Napoleon III, who then
passed it on to his Italian ally, after
going through the formality of taking
plebiscite of the population as to its
wishes. ! imagine that there is little
chance of the Kaiser worrying about
the wishes of the population of Tren-
tino. T. is for these reasons that In
Switzerland, in spite of the semi-of-
fetal dement," of the "Stampa" and
the revelations by the "Corrierre della
Sera," the belief exists that there is
some foundation for the information
published by the former journal
1t was never alleged that these ne
| gotiations took place with the gov
| eminent, but rather with the opposi-
| ton which may replace the Salandra
| government tomorrow. Signor Clio
! ltti has denied that he had had any
/ direct negotiations with Prince Won
/ Buow, but this is no proof that some
such negotiations may not have gone
on By indirect means. In Switzerland,
/ however. in spite of the sensation that
/ the possibility of such deal" has
caused. the people are skeptical that
/ Austria mas consented to any such
1 concessions. The Dual Monarchy
| spent hundreds of millions of kronen
/ on the fertilization of Trentino, which
| it regards as practically impregnabl@
Italy Would Brook No Delay.
| It is certain that if Italy accepted
| Germany's combination she would in
/ sist on the actual possession within
very short time. No promise to hand
/ it over "after the war" would have
any chance Of acceptance. Chancellor
Bethmann Hollweg's theory that
treaties which have ceased TO
square with German interests are
mere scraps of paper will make lta'y
insist on tangible guarantees, the
/ least of which will be the immediate
occupation of the provinces in ques-
| ton.
1t is further regarded as unlikely
| that Italy will abandon her claim on
7 Trieste. Trentino without that sea-
/ port would be more of a white ele-
plant than anything else. Though,
/ therefore, one desire of Switzerland
/ is that Italy should maintain her neu-
/ trality, very strong doubts are felt
| that it is IN the power Of Germany to
/ purchase it at such cheap price. 1t
/ is further considered that Prince Won
/ Bilow in committing such breach
| of diplomatic etiquette as TO treat the
+ Cabinet in power as a mere "quantlte
/ negligeable" and to negotiate ma
/ tionsl issue with the leaders OF the
opposition will have made an enemy
/ of Signor Salandra, who certainly has
/ Il in his power to queer his pitch
/ by putting the ex-Chancellor OF Ger
many face 10 face with some fat ac-
compli" which will change the whole
situation.