The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-28
REASON FOR
ITAlY'S INTERVENTION


One of Points in Country's War Which
Foreigners In Genera and Anieri-
cans Still Fail to Understand
(By Guglielmo Fcfrcro. Italy's Fore
most Historian.)
Florence, Italy. July 27.-one of
the points in Italy's wal when
foreigners in general and Americans
in particular still fail to understand
and which requires some explanation
is; What was the reason for Italy's
intervention
Fol over thirty-two years Italy has
been allied TO Germany and Austria;
Why, then did h throw in her lot
with the enemies of the central
powers when the world conflict burst?
The contradiction between her in
PREVENTION and the policy which h
had hitherto constantly followed. had
lent itself to many direct and indi-
lrect accusations on the part OF
friends of the central empires-it is.
therefore, worth while to make this
point, perfectly clear once for all.
In order to do so, we must go as
far back as the Vienna congress, be-
cause Italy's Intervention in the wal
is nothing but the last consequence of
the policy which prevailed at the con-
gress of Vienna in regard to Italy.
1t will be remembered that the con-
gress. with but few exceptions. re-
placed on their feet all the little
states which were in existence IN
italy, before the revolution, but hand
ed over Lombardy and the Veneto to
the Austrian empire. All the other
italian governments being small and
weak. the Austrian empire became the
dominating power throughout the PEN
Ursula. Thus Italy, If not by right, be-
came in fact an Austrian protectorate.
land Austria awaited herself of this
predominating authority to weigh on
the affairs of each Italian state at her
will and pleasure. At Turin, at
Modena, Florence, in Rome, in Naples,
the Austrian minister's word was law.
And everywhere. Austria backed the
reactionary, absolutist, ~aristocrat
| party, the party which look upon
the French revolution as the work
of the devil and regarded every form
of political liberty as the high road
to ruin.
France and England progressed, enjoy
ed the advantages of an ever increas-
ing liberty and were able to develop
their culture and their commerce, per-
fecting their political and social in
,stitutsons. Italy groaned in bondage
and was condemned to the most hu-
Initiating ignorance, the fault was en-
tirely Austria's. Austria everywhere
lent a willing hand to the rcactionary
parties in order to stamp down ruth
lessly every attempt toward freedom
and progress.
Italy rose up in rebellion In 1913 but
u ~.-4 fas11S Che triad nOain
in 1889 with the help OF France n
this time was more successful; the
italian question received a first solu-
ltion. satisfactory but incomplete,
When we hin that Austria had a
population almost half again as large
as tina of Italy. an area twice as eX-
tended. and one OF the noidest n
most powerful armies in Europe;
when We remember that Austria re-
garded Italy as a terrain OF protector
ate and domination, forcibiy
ed from her by the coalition Of Pied
mont and France. it is not difficult to
Understand that Italy could not pos
sibly be satisfied with this partial
solution Of the Italian question.
Venice. on the other hand, clamored
for reunion 10 the mother country.
1t was thus that in 1866 Italy con-
Icluded an alliance with Prussia in
order 10 attempt to rescue the whole
OF her national territory for foreign
domination. Some mistakes OF which
we were guilty and Bismarok's trea-
son prevented us. his time. too. from
accom- plishine our long cherished de-
sign. We received the Ncncto. but
Austria remained az Trento and
Trieste, namely on the Italian side OF
the Alps. Not only was h still the
mistress of italian population, but OF
the river banks, and OF the great
roads Of invasion.
Nevertheless, up till 1870, this eitua-
ton was almost tolerable for US. But
after 1870, the situation changed
completely. France no longer pos
sessed the strength OF the pr responder
ing authority which were hers be-
and was too busy looking after her
+. own affairs to boz able to defend Italy
against an Austrian attack.
Italy found herself isolated before
the empire OF the HepsburSs, namely,
in front Of a state mor wealthy.
more thickly populated, stronger from
military point Of view and which.
by virtue OF a tradition which hailed
as far back as the year 1915. regarded
italy as a country destined to remain
under Austrian guardianship.
bismarck TOOK advantage OF the
situation to biackmail italy into the
triple alliance. He declared himself
ready TO guarantee Italy's integrity on
condition that she should adhere to
the alliance which Germany had al
ready concluded with Austria. We
were thus obliged to accept an al
lance with Austria, with q pistol
clasped to our hcnd. In order to avoid
| a war against an empire having an
army dOub1y our own. II was . case
Of alliance Or war. 4.
nv means ~ the triple Alliance