Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-09

The reappearance Of Nitti serves TO
demonstrate that the Italian Premier is
beginning 10 acquire something Of Lloyd
Georges quality Of indispensability. Save
IN France, perhaps, the success of NItti IA
forming n new cabinet will be generally
welcomed, for except among the French i,
Nitti has earned golden opinions.
Yet IN some respects the task Of the
Italian statesman Is only little less diff
cult than that Of his German contempO-
rary and his position is infinitely more
hazardous than that Of George or Miller
and. The trouble comes from tho fact that
in Italy there ig no middle ground in the
Parliamentary groups. The last election
gave strength 10 the Socialists at one eE-
trene and the Clcricals and the reaction
aries at the other, and between the two
groups the present Italian Chamber IS
almost equal y divided.
In tho German National Assembly tho
majority still remains with the Clerical
Majority Socialists, although il may be
that the approaching election will result
IN increases both at the radical and the re-,
dictionary extreme. In Great Britain and
IN France on the contrary the last cleo
tons have resulted ia sweeping triumphs
Tor the groups representing moderate and
even conservative ideas
Thus, while Lloyd George is supported
by an overwhelming majority which -
more or less Of his own personal selections
and MllIerand is backed on questions Of
domestic policy and in al cases where his
foreign policy conforms 10 the unmIstak-
ably definite views Of the Chamber by an
equally impressive majority, Nitti finds
himself assailed first from one direction
and then from another, the moment his
course seems 20 conflict with the extreme
views Of the conservatives on the right
or tho radicals on tho left
The Italian Socialists demand that
peace be made at Once with Russia and he
way opened for conmerciai exchanges
Their opponents who control by the barest
margin are prepared To overthrow NItti,
the moment hc discloses anything sug-
costing tolerance 0f Bolshevism. In the
matter of Fiume and the Adriatic Qnes-
tion, the Socialists arc -oldiy against
now war but Q majority Of Nitns fol-
lowers arc hostile 10 any considerable
sacrifice of Itaiy's claims.
Nltti himself has given evidence of real
moderation. He has for example contribut-
ed mueh 10 alaving the bitterness between
Greeks and Italians and not a few Greeks
have spoken in recent months in apprecia-
tion and gratitude Of the degree to which
Nitti has recognized Hellenic rights in
Fpirus and the Egean right which had
been challenged by Orlando and his asso-
ciates at Paris
Moreover in the matter Of the Adriatir,
Nttl has pursued q course which has, at
the least avoided open hostilities and kept
the way open for a later peaceful settle
ment, which would not have been possible,
had he, for example, insisted that failing
the acquisition Of Fiume, italy should
insist upon the translation Of the terms Of
the Treaty u London into fact. Tangled
as the AdTlatic situation remains, il Is
simple Justice 20 recognize that NittI
has contributed To lessenIng the tension,
which was at fever heat when Orlando quit
Paris a year ago. and later, when ID An
nunziO went 70 Fmme.
Yet the Italian situation il far from at
tractlve. The war has left italy heavily
indebted to the United States and to
Great Britain Her foreign debt nowexceeds
81 COO C000O0 while the French ls but
S. 5,000000.0O0, and Franco Is far richer
in ultimate resources. Before the war
too, Italian finances were in q grave con
iition
In addition. while the war has resulted
N the reahzatIon Of some Of TtaIvs as
Dlratlons, notably n the possession Of
and the Trentine, these acquisitions
together with q possible protectorate in
Albania and a sphere of interest on the
south coast Of Asia Minor do not rep
'esent considers bleanv immediate increase
n revenue. IN fact, 50 far as the Adri4tIc
md Asia Minor are concerned, wiz prob
.bly call for large preliminary expenses.
Nitti has sought to rescue his couutr,
rom Is plight by a close ASSOCIATION with
treat Britain This association has led
quite naturally 20 the support Of the
British view IN the matter Of Germany
n point OF face the Italians remain. even
fter war. rather more friendly 10 the
Germans than to the French ana then
economic restoration OF Germany f4ils
n with Italian interests, political as well
s economic.
But che British support, after all has
cry clear limits II has not established
Italian CLAIMS in Fiume, il has and il
annot materially contribute 70 lift the
reat burden OF external debs that The
far laid upon that European country,
rhlch ID proportion TO It's wealth was mos
eavily II debt before 1918 There has
cen undoubtedly a great deal Of eXag-
Grafton II the possibility oG q Bolshe visit
utbreak in italy bur It IS not less tuuct
hat the Italian Kingdom still has very
lfhcult problems 70 solve.