Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-11
ITALIANS WANT
CLOSE RELATIONS
With AMERICA
European Country Ripe for Ex-
pIoitation of u. S. Bust
ness, Premier Nitti De.
CIares in Interview.

Rome, Aug. l0.-(By The Asso-
ciated ss)-Francisco Nitti, the
Italian premier, in an interview to-
day, dealt at length with Italy's eff
forts in the war and her ambitions
for the future. Particular stress
was laid by the premier on 1taly's
desire for closer economic relations
with the United States. He declared
that Italy was ripe for exploitation
by American business.
Il find no difficulty in speaking
plainly" said Signor Nittl to the
orrespondents. Having been in
America and seen the work that
America has done in all branches of
human endeavor, | know something
of the great institutions that she
has built up, industrlally, socially
and politically. 1t is therefore with
feeling of great pleasure that /
communicate to Americans this
message as the head of the Italian
government.
There is no conflict of interests
between us. We are today two
democracies striving for a still
further realization of the benefits Of
free governments
All Available Fought.
Continuing, the premier said:
1T was in the aim to perpetuate
free institutions that Italy threw in
her all. No country suffered more
from the conflict or bore the sacri-
flee with greater will. Half a mill
lion dead testify in silence more
strikingly than any other evidence
Of Italy's sterling spirit. A million
disabled, living in pain. constitute
another of our offerings in the cause
of freedom. Five and a quarter mil
lion men went out to battle out OF
a 35,000,000 population in 1915.
Every available man in Italy was
called to the colors.
Had America been called upon to
contribute this proportion. she
would have summoned 100000
men to arms. Italy's army was
given NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the al
tar of liberty to bear witness that
right is more precious than peace.
Big War Debt.
Before the war our annual ma
tional debt amounted to $4,000, 0OO,-
900; our advent into the war has
seen it rise to $16,000,0000 1000. In
comparison with other countries
war debts, it might not seem STU
pendous, but when keeping in mind
Italy's resources, it represents the
greatest sacrifice of them all. ltaly's
national wealth aggregated but $2O,-
000000000. We surrendered all but
one-hfth of it in the war, and had
we been called upon for further sac
rihces we would have willingly given
even to the limit of our existence.
Italy entered the war, accepting
all its sorrows and all its dangers.
Several times she was on the point
of falling. Italy, contrary to the
spirit OF the treaty concluded with
the allies, remained a long time
alone against Austria Hungary, fac
ing one of the greatest armies of
the world, outnumbering that of
Italy by 100000. Our forces fought
with a spirit unhampered by hard
ship or privation, due to love for
enduring liberty. There was not
one atom of endeavor we withheld
in seeking victory.
Sporadic Unrest.
Long years in the trenches made
the men of the allied armies return
ing to civil life nervous and rest
less. We have had sporadic cases
of unrest in Italy, but none serious
enough to warrant undue alarm. All
attempts at general strikes have
proved to be failures.
THE problem of the high cost of
living will be brought near solution
when the industrial groups have ac-
cepted the need for increased out
put, and as long as this feeling per-
meats the mass of the Italian peo-
pie fear of a revolution of Asiatic
bolshevism will be unfounded.
"Our war debt of ,$l6000,000,000
is being met with fortitude and
stoicism that belittles the gigantic
efforts of other countries. Our cour-
age in facing our debt, we hope, wilt
be rewarded by national financial
firmness which will stand unques-
toned,