New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
Urges
Italy to Keep
Allied Friends
Relations With
France Especially Should
Be Maintained, Nitti Says
to Parliament

ROME, July 9 (By the Associated
Press).-Premier Nitti, in speech be-
fore Parliament to-day, urged that the
peace negotiations be concluded and
that friendly relations with the Allies,
especially France, be maintained.
The Premier informed the Deputies
that all efforts should be made to re-
establish the country on peace foot
ing, lower the prices OF necessaries and
bring about orderly conditions through
out Italy.
Takes Precautions
Examining into the internal situation,
Premier Nitti said: "The present state
of unrest is not peculiar to Italy. In
deed, there is less in Italy than in the
other nations which have just emerged
from the war;
The Premier admonished the people
to work harder. and said that all must
aim toward great; effort at recon
struction. He declared that the coun-
try must stand now, as it did alone
against numerically superior enemy
The people, however, he said, must
know the truth-must know the situa-
tlon thoroughly, so as to be able to
direct all efforts toward the same OBJ
jcct.
Defence of Liberty
The supreme duty of the government,
s1gnor 'Nitti continued, was the defence
OF liberty and order, without which
ltaly's position would be weakened,
especially abroad, where it had been
Impossible as yet to find a solution for
the Adriatic question. After repeating
the governments programme of foreign
policy, as outlined to the senate by
Foreign Minister Tittoni, he added:
Our foreign policy must be the true
policy of the people. The epoch of
secrets-the epoch in which nations
entered into alliance or into war with
out the peoples knowledge-has def
nitely ended for Italy"
Concerning the internal policv. Siqnor
Nitti said he supported reform of the
Senate SO as to transform it into par
tally elective body. He also advocated
electoral reform for the Chamber of
Deputies. The Premier urged the cur
tallment of expenses and consolidation
Of revenues, and announced a new tax
by which the revenues would be aug
mented $500,000,000 yearly, the new rev
enues to be raised chiefly through pro-
gressive income tax on inco: - growing
out of the war
To Demobilize Army Soon
Premier Ntti announced that the
army would be .demobilized as soon as
the international situation and internal
order allowed He said that the govern
ment to save fuel intends to electrify
nearly 1000 miles Of railroad, utilizing
water power The railways of the Pc
Valley will be transformed from steam
to electricity. the waterfalls of the
Trentino being used for this purpose.
Special attention will be given to avia-
ton, the Premier asserted, making Italy
"the world aviation centre"
Sgnor Nitti deplored manifestation
fortunately isolated" aiming to SOW
distrust between Italy and her allies.
"Some unpleasant incidents which
have occurred at Fiume and in some
other cities have been eXaggerated,' the
Premier went on. "France and Italy
have many virtues in common, but also
some defects, among which is that Of
heing easily excited over small cpl
sodes. No episode can alter the reia-
tions between two countries conse-
Grated by blood shed together Demo-
cratic France must realize that Italy
trusts in her friendly cooperation for
the development of her national pro:
grnmme.
Calls Hour Critical
"Thc hour is critical, perhaps the
most critical in the history of Italy.
But we have firm faith that Italy pos
sesses the energies necessary not only
to surpass the present difficulty but to
give this country the place it deserves
in the world. We will win because it
is necessary to win--because we must
win"
The Italian government, according to
the Premier, is losing $500. 600, 900 year
ly in the purchase Of wheat for bread
and any further reduction in price be-
low cost would mean ruin. The present
prchlem, he declared, consisted of
approximating the cost price to con-
sumers after the elimination of the
middleman.
Whoever speaks Of revolution in the
present condition Of production and en-
change must be considered an enemy
OF the people. If revolution is an evil
IN countries having sufficient raw mate
rials. it would be suicide in country
like Italy"
Premier Nitti had remained at the
Ministry Of the Interior throughout
lass night to be certain that the
stringent measures he had ordered
taken to prevent outbreaks in connec-
ton with the opening Of parliament