The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-24
PREMIER N|TTI
Continued from page y

the secret we have made of our dim
culties. The people OF Italy have been
told that the war has been won for
no advantage, because owing 10 diplo-
matte and economic reasons all her
aspirations cannot be nsateriallzed.
II is the greatest mistake imaginable.
ITALY has won the war and won
II to very great and distinct ad-
vantage We have now solid from
tier, almost impregnable. We are
rid of the Austrian yoke which was
weighing heavily on our shoulders and
preventing expansion We are now
free to work for our greater program
which Is one of economical and po-
iiticai enlargement Europe viii soon
realize that Italy is at present the
continent France. whose territory is
two-ffths larger than ours. has a
smaller population than italy. And
while we are today nearly forty mill
lions we shall be over fifty millions in
less than ten years.
We possess a greater number of
men able to work than any other
country. This is more than gold.
1t In power and for power, / mean
power to carry on a program of
civilization and progress We do not
want any other war. We want to be
on friendly terms with all nations.
The present misunderstanding, origi-
mated at the peace conference, will
soon be smoothed over. Italy is the
natural friend of the United States
and the natural friend of France.
The United States will need labor
in the future because of America $
wonderful resources. And Italy has
got labor; good labor. And this la
Dor must not go to the American mar
kcl and slump it with offers of cheap
wages. Your American workingman
has the right to protect himself and
therefore the right to protect his la
Dor market according TO the stan
dard OF prices he has earned and set
up as result of the war. Our
workingmen must submit to the same
rule and not try TO outbid his native
colleague. The same applies to
France. Our nearness, our Latin
blood. our community of interests
make the two countries bound to be-
come more and more closely friendly,
1T is a vast program of work and
OF reconstruction which lies before
US. Italy is graphing with 1t in great
style. Economically we are sound
We have only eighteen billion dollars
! national debt of which four billions is
with foreign countries, chiefly
America l am going to reduce 1t al
once at least between four and five
billions by enforcing a high taxation
! on capital. especially on capital re-
| Gently earned through the war.
Then / am gong TO apply a heavy
| tax on incomes. That will give VI
| enough to face the interest and
| charges on new loan. The Italian
| people will pay. And ir no time yol
will see our securities increase THEN
| value.
We have little food and practi.
| cally no coal. Well, we shall find q
| way out of even this tight corner
am positive that Italy has come ou
Of the war in far better condition
than many other allied countries. w,
shall soon rebound. Our natural re
sources are going to be exploited t.
the utmost and the latest American
fmethods are going to be applied.
The American people will be tn
first ones to understand my meanin
because it is in their blood to go t
! the root of any problem and to dis
| pose of 1t quickly In the best POSSIBLE
way. We do not intend to run afte
any chimeric imperialisuc vision.
| The whole problem today reduce
itself to a question Of letting the PEG
| pie OF our countries know each othe
| better than in the past. Italy Is a
| democratic as America and from nov
on the people themselves will hav
a greater share in the government
of the country. A new era Is dawn
ing over the world. The future be
longs to the new democracy. founde,
| en- work"