Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-13
.|TALY's STRUGGLE AND
NATIONAL IDEALS |NWAR!
Longs for Peace, but Desires No Less
Accomplishment OF Territorial
and Racial Unity.
PRESENT WAR A HOLY CAUSE
signor Orlando Tells OF Aspirations
OF His Pcople-Itecognizc Splcn-
did Results Achieved mt Council
of Versaillcs-Is Optimistic.
BY s1GNon ORLANDO.

hoD1E, aug lS.--OuT conception OIL
the present situation may be summed
up as follows. namely. that our per-
severance with unshaken frmness in
this gigantic struggle does not depend
on any possible choice. but on impera-
tive necessity as revealed no less by
the deep. conscious sentiment OF ma
tional ideals than by the deep and ir-
resistible dictates Of the instinct OF
preservation, which peoples as we'll as
individuals obey. This manner OF view
ing the particular situation of Italy
found general agreement in the in
quiry made during the last period Of
the laborious and fruitful discussions
between the great nations fighting
against the central empires. and tho
conclusion was not different from It.
While, indeed. the question OF peace
was apparently being raised for the
first time at estLitovsk by means
Of concrete and direct negotiations. the
statesmen of the entente have already
declared separately their ideas and in
tentions on the subject Of war aims
and the means of ending the war. This
very divergence OF views in which the
statesmen OF the various nations and
In very different situations examined
the problem OF war aims had the be-
Inefficient effect that all honest possi-
bilities OF just peace we're offered to
the enemy's consideration. We have
heard moderate proposals expressed in
such measured terms that one OF them
was oven able to rouse in Italy feel
pectations and to engender doubts
which, / am glad to be able to state
most formally and definitely. were
definitely, cordially, and entirely dissi-
pated.
Enemy's Real Peace Aims.
If. then. the desire for peace which
has been displayed several times by
the enemy governments had been really
determined by sincere and loyal in
tentions, it would have found the most
ample and most favorable field for its
expression. On the contrary. nothing
was affirmed but the most obstinate.
to carry out the plan previously formed
of imperialistic domination. AS re-
CARDS Italy, those reasons of legitimate
and absolute necessity which are at
6rmed in our war aims still exist just
as they were at the moment when de-
liberately and of our own free will we
undertook our gigantic task. Now. as
then, Italy wishes for no more war.
but that does not mean that she de-
sires any less the accomplishment of
her national unity and the security of
her land and sea frontiers. Only the
full realization of one and the other
will assure to Italy her existence as n
really free and independent state.
Engaged In a Holy Cause.
Our war aim is holy one II any
ever was. 1t is question OF whether
Italy is to exist or not. We Italians
still have bitter memories OF what we
ourselves have suffered and OF what
our brothers are still suffering and we
do not confine ourselves merely to fol-
lowing with verbal and platonic sym
pathy the effort OF oppressed nation
alities which are aspiring to freedom.
For three years. with unheard OF sacri-
fees and by the blood of thousands and
thousands OF our brothers and children.
We have been carrying on q war not
only for the defense Of our rights and
our existence. but also war against
n common enemy.
The entente cannot now consider the
events which are taking place in the
northeastern part of Europe except as
de facto situation, which will have no
connection with right or any legal