Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-12

8 Geneva, June 12.-In Europe the
case of Italy is the most shrinking fea.
turc of a strangely fascinating situ.
alton. For Italy is making the great cx.
pertinent which idealists tell us is the
only way to save the world from chaos
and ruin.
Since the end Of the war the Italian
statesmen have been boldly putting into
practice the international pacitist doc
frine preached by the intellectual op-
Moments OF the peace of Versailles in
all countries. They are carrying out
the political program of Anglo Saxon
pacifsm and radicalism.
4 It is true that they have succeeded in
reconciliug this idealistic policy with
Italy's material interests and even her
Territorial aggrandizement, but it does
not follow that they are altogether with
out sincerity. The question is simply
How is the theory Of fraternization with
foreign and integral foes working out
in Italy?
SIT is a question of supreme interest
and importance for all other nations
that are being urged with ever in
creasing vehemence to adopt the same
policy.
War Hatreds Have Vanished
OF all the allied countries Italy has
bcen the first to effect a complete. unre
sfricted reconciliation with the Central
Powers. Germans and Austrians have
been readmitted to Italy on terms of
absolute equality with all other for
eirners. German business men, news
paper correspondents and tourists pre-
dominate in Italian cities once more as
IN the days before the war. Their pres
ence is not merely tolerated. but vel
comed by the Italian people 1t has
NOT led to a single unpleasant incident
anywhere. ,
The Italian attitude toward Austria
20 one of compussionate protection
Germany is again regarded almost as an
ally. Diplomatic relations between
Rome and the governments OF Berlin
and Vienna are cordial and unclcuded
nv suspicion or distrust. In word.
ali yestiges of war hatred have vanished
and Italy has concluded real and lasting
peace with her former foes.
The Italian Government has likewise
taken the lead in the movement for the
conclusion of peace with the Russian
Bolshevists and the recognition Of the
Soviet republic. II was, the first gov
eminent to allow Socialist missions TO
nroceed to Russia and enter into rela q.
fiops with the Red dictators. 1t has
opened negotiations with the soviet
rulers to re establish commercial and
diplomatic intercourse between Italy
and Russia, and it has entrusted these
negotiations to the Italian Socialist:
whose sympathies for bolshevism are
undisgnised.
FFinally. il has maintained an attitude
Of indignant forbearanre towards m
revolutionary labor movement in ltal
itself and allowed free scope to radica
agitation and the application Of Social
lstic theories.
' Modern Radical Pacifism
The policy of the italian Statesmen
thus fulfls the fundamental principle
of.modern radical pacifsm: Fraterniza
tion with Germany and soviet Russi'
IN foreign politics and collaboration
with socialism at home. 1t is the polio,
advocated by the opposition parties il
England, by the great majority o
British "intclectuals, aud by th'
remnants of Joseph Caillaux's followin.
in France.
1t would. perhaps, be premature L
say that 1taly's experiment with thi
policy has already definitely failed
to say that 50 far its results are no
very encouraging.
while we are still being told tha
without it reconstruction is impossible
and revolution inevitable there are bu
few signs that it has served to advanc
reconstruction in Italy and many tha
IL is helping to promot" rCvou'ion., Th
most significant circumstances, to IN
mind. is that it has proved absolutel
impotent to anpease the revolutionar
ambitions of tho Italian labor leader
and the discomfort of the fanaticize
italian proletariat.
Here we have a government that
striving. to the best of its ability,
fulfill all the demands of internatioua
socialism. and the Socialists are as in
tent on its destruction as ever 1t
trying to apply the Socialist recipe fo
reconstruction. and they are ,paralyzin
this reconstruction by incessant strike
exactly in the same way as in countrie
whose governments are supposed to
''reaCtionary,' and even with create
boldnesS and violence. The Germa
mentality of International socialism
which invariably intcrprets tolerance q
weakness, was never more brutally re
Sealed.
Stimulation to Anarchy
There are people who argue that ii
situation in Italy would be much wors
~ the Italian statesmen had attompto
10 pursue diffPrenC policy, and tina