South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-15
PREMIER NITTI
SUNS UP ACTION
OF PARLIAMENT
italian Chamber of Deputies
Approves Reply to
Kings Speech.
EXPLAINS LONDON MEETING

By Associated Press
ROME. Dec. 13.-The chamber Of
deputies Sunday night voted ap
proval of the reply TO the speech
from the throne after rejectir by
a vote Of 2S9 to 124 an amendment
offered by the socialists providing
for the immediate recognition OF the
Russian soviet government and the
resumption of relations with Russia.
Premier Nitti summed UP the de
bate on the reply in a speech OF con-
siderable length. He desired first
10 dispose of a question which was
causing national concern. and to
deny the report that the government
was about 10 conclude new interna-
tional agreements creating fresh re-
sponsibilihes. The premier's refer
ence was to a report that the meet
ing of Premiers LIoyd-George and
.Clemenceau and Foreign Minister
Scialoa i'm London had considered a
military convention.
Nitti's Reply.
Answering different speakers who
presented motions for the convoca-
tion OF constituent assembly,
Signor Nitti said:
But we consider the parliament
as a permanent constituent assem-
bly,. There is no necessity 10 con
woke one purposely The Italian
constitution, granted on March 4,
184S. was quickly modified by the
parliament on May 1s. 1913. and
later has been changed constantly
according to necessity. The parlia-
ment IS sovereign. It IS free to mod
! ify by enactment any article Of the
constitution. What you now wish is
to change article FIVE. which nomi.
nally gives he king the right to de-
clare war. But do you really believe
that the last war was declared with
out the assent Of the parliament?
At this the socialists shouted:
Yes, against the will of parlia-
ment"
Great Confusion.
There was great confusion In the
chamber for a few moments, after
which Premier Nitd resumed his re-
marks.
The law granting full powers TO
the cabinet" he went on, was
: passed by the chamber on May %.
1915. 1t was equivalent to a decla-
ration Of war"
The entire socialist group shout
ed: NO, no! The cabinet already
had concluded an alliance with the
entente"
The premier begged for the sup
port Of all parties to help Italy out
| Of her present difficulties
Cost of Wheat.
I'VE buy wheat at 100 lire per
| quintal and sell it for 60 lire" he
said, thus losing 100000 to 5000
| 900 lire daily. The greatest curse
to us would be to lose our credit
! abroad. because then we would be
irreparably lost. Russia and Hun
gary. despite their financial isola-
| ton, were able 70 exist because
their internal production was rela-
lively sufficient TO feed their people.
1 urge the socialists TO be frank with
the public and explain the necessity
| OF not endangering our relations
with the allies, especially the United
States. which alone can supply us
with the greatest part Of what we
need. In fact. we cannot receive
immediate help except from the
American continent a.ld. above all.
from the United States.
| Russian Relations.
With regard 10 our relations with
Russia. 1 am certain we shall soon
! resume commercial relations with
/ that country. but I am not certain
/ that they Will soon be advantageous
The idea that the Anglo-Amer-
lean bloc is interested in isolating
| Russia in order TO have A monopoly
OF raw materials is nonsense"