Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-21
SITUATION IN ITALY
IS MORE COMPLICATED
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sonnino
Seems to Have Lost Conf.
dence OF People.
HE is OPENLY DENOUNCED
Criticized for Failure to Keep Pace
With Great Britain and France In
Making Favorable Arrangements
With United States.
ny CAMrLLo C.ANFAnnA.

ROME, April 20 (hy maiD.-The
Italian internal political situation is
daily growing more complicated. This
is chiefly owing to the fact that Baron
Sonhino. Minister OF Foreign Affairs.
of the ra-intcrventionist press and
of the groups who arc responsible for
ltaly's Intervention on the side of the
allies. Baron Sonninos return from
the last allied conference at the Italo-
French border was the signal for VIC.
lent attacks by the loading organs OF
public opinion. His reluctance to &C
quaint even his colleagues of the Cabi-
net with the various phases OF his
diplomatic action is now denounced
as a national calamity. Thanks to
strict censorship. the press has not yet
been permitted to throw some light
on Baron Sonnino's diplomatic activity
on the eve OF 1taly's Intervention in
the conflict. Now and then. In the
speeches Of prominent observation-disclosures
and In the carefully worded phrases
OF press articles there have been clear
hints that 1t was gross mistake on
the part of the Salandra Cabinet. then
in power, and of which Baron Sonnlno
was the leading member. not to secure
from the allies the economic and finan-
cial support nation as poor as Italy
is would have needed in the course of
a long and expensive war. How and
at what price for Italy's dignity some
scant support was afterwards secured
in another and no less interesting
story In which Baron Sonnino still
plays a leading part
FAILS TO KEEP PACE
WITH HER TWO ALLIES
But this is not ALL Italy's failure
to keep pace with her two allies
France and England-in their policy
towards the United States. and the still
more deplorable failure to send at the
proper time mission TO Washington
that could have rivaled those OF France
and England, are denounced as unpar.
donable mistakes.
The absence from Washington of
Italian representatives at n time when
the presence there OF influential
Italians would have secured for the
nation a treatment equal to that ac-
corded to France and England, and
the apparent disregard In which Italy's
interests and the part Italy Is playing
In the world war. are blamed on Baron
Sonnino.
The Foreign Minister is further
blamed for his failure to bring to the
attention of the neutral countries what
italy has done and is still doing. To
quote leading statesman. while the
American papers are full of the ex-
PLOTS of the English army in France
ana everywhere else, very few know
the Italian front is three times as long
as that defended by the English troops
i'll France: that for more than a year
italy fought with only the naked
breast of her children. and that even
now she has less than ono tenth of the
mechanical means the English troops
have at their disposal.
CUP OF HUMILIATION
FILLED TO OVERLOOKING
The announcement that the United
states Treasury Department already
had handed over TO Minister Balfour
a check for $500. 600, 900: that arrange
mcnts were being perfected to meet
Frances financial requirements, and
that Italy would receive her share, n
any, only through the English financial
organizations, have filled Italy's Gun
OF humiliation and sorrow. The i'm
preston prevails that Baron Sonnino
has practically abdicated in favor OF
England tho exercise OF Italy's
sovereign functions in the world.
Baron Sonnino is doomed to go. In
tho next parliamentary session, IL not
before. there will he significant changes
In the composition OF the lta Ian Cabi-
net.