New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Italian Paper
Says Nation Has
Deserted Allies
"Merely a Spectator in the
Struggle" Declares Cor
riere della Sera"
[SpeciaL Correspondencel

ROME, Dee. 10 By maiD.-Italy has
abandoned the Allied cause and be-
come merely a spectator in the strug-
gle Of the Allies against her enemies,
is the remarkable statement Of the
"Corriere della Sera," Of Milan, one of
the leading Italian papers, made in the
course OF a bitter reply TO the Ger
manophiles and pacifsts who are ac-
cusing the Allies of having failed 10
supply Italy with the materials she
needs most.
The "Corriere della Sera" declares
that the Allies were doing their best
TO furnish Italy with food, coal and
tonnage, and shows in figures the
great sacrifices the Allies we're making
in order to satisfy Italy's necessities.
at is necessary to know the real
facts" says the "Corriere della Sera.'
"and these tell US that the Allies are
under no moral or material obligation
10 deprive themselves of the things
most necessary for their existence, to
release tonnage, which is becoming
more and more scarce, in order to re-
levc the needs of a country which has
become Indifferent to their cause and
which is only spectator in the strug-
gle going on between them and our
enemies.
Cites Lack of Tonnage
an 1918 only 25 per cent Of the
goods imported by us were brought on
Italian ships; the rest was imported
bv means Of English and other ships.
OF the 2.324.s4O tons Of grain import
ed in that year only $4,000 tons were
imported on Italian ships. OF the
1Ol96. $3.50 tons of coal only l,S7S,OO0
tons we're imported on Italian ships.
while 100000 tons were imported on
English ships.
I'm 1916 Of 291 ,729 tons of grain,
2S5. $50 came from the United States.
During the first half Of 1917, out of
$4,000 tons of hard grain, $4,000
came from the United States. Out OF
$4,000 tons Of soft grain which we
imported during the first semester of
1917 the United States supplied us
with $4,000, Australia $4,000, and
neutral Argentina with only 10000
tons.
"As with breadstuffs, so it is also
with other commodities. We are de-
pending on the Allies for fish. OF 1885,
600 ouintals of fish England alone sent
us 90 900 quintals and Canada $1,000
during the first half of 1917. CT 2,5I9,-
coo tons of coal imported during the
first half Of 1917 England furnished
US 2.297, 900 tons and the United States
279.000 tons. Where would we have
obtained our shoes had not --ngland,
France and India supplied US with
leather? How could we keep up our
cotton industry if we had not received
our cotton from the Allies? or l,l91,-
600 ouintgls Of cotton imported during
the first half Of 1917 we received 90O,-
0OO from the United States, 247 900
from India and $4,000 from Egypt
Deserving Allies Cause
"What right have we to demand that
the Allies should undergo greater pr
vations. while we are deserting our
cor,ron cause? The grain is every
where on allowance. In the united
States Mr. Hoover, the food controller
has before him a very diflcult problem.
What right have we 10 ask him TO give
,,s oo 600 400 or 10000 900 quintals
I The Americans can reduce their con-
SUMPTION of grain, but they must know
the reason why they ought TO do that.
They have no reason for relieving the
needs Of those who have abandoned
their cause.
ut is painful to have TO rebut argu-
ments which evidently are coming from
the enemy and which no Italian ought
TO call his own. But, first OF all, we
must explain the truth"