New-York tribune., 1920-02-25
Italian Envoy
Urges Closer
i. S. Relations
Pleads for Cooperation in
Restoring His Nation at
Dinner Here; Many Prom
inent Guests Are Present
Roosevelt's Letter Read
Baron Avezzano Denies That
Rome Entered War to
Promote Imperial Aims

America and Italy, Bellissima
ltalia"-joined hands last night IN
token Of friendship and devotion TO
the ideals of liberty and civilization.
The occasion was dinner given by
the Italy American Society in honor
of the Italian Ambassador, Baron
Romano Avezzano, and the Baroness
Romano Avezzano, at the Hotel Astor.
Among the speakers were the ambas-
sador, Charles E. Hughes. president Of
the society, who presided; Robert
Ambassador to Italy; c. Grant La
Fargo, secretary Of the American
Academy in Rome. and General
Summerall
The glories and beauties of Italy
and her services to art, literature ana
the cause of human culture and
progress were extolled before an
audience of more than l 900 prominent
guests. A letter written by the late
Theodore Roosevelt to Captain
francesca M. Guardabassi, extolling
ltaly's part in the war and her con-
tributions to the victory of democracy
and right over the forces of militar-
ism and Prussianism, was read for the
first time.
In his address Ambassador Avez-
zano said the war did a great deal
toward cementing the mutual efforts
o! America and Italy in behalf of the
ideals of freedom and civilization. He
denied emphatically the charges that
Italy entered the war with thoughts os
personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT and pictured
IN detail the part she played in the
world conflict.
Fought for Liberty
zone of the legends that has been
circulated" said the ambassador, "is
that Italy, moved by desire of terri
tor!ai aggrandizement and by imperial
lstlc aims, waited to enter the war until
she could form an opinion as to which
side would be victorious No one in
Italy thought it worth while to refute
such an allegation, as no one believed
that it could be spread or accepted. If
this had besn 1taly's aim, she would
nave taken sides with Germany, who
offered her great deal more than was
stipulated IN the now famous Treaty OF
London. Italy entered the war, al
though not we'll prepared, at moment
when the fortunes of the Entente
seemed desperate; the moment when
-~>''S-e- ''' SuHC4iiiS a UP-
feat at Przemysl, and when Serbia wa
powerless to check the foe.
Italy entered the war for the princi-
pie of liberty championed by the West.
ern powers, a principle which was IN
perfect harmony with her national as
pirations, for the completion of Ital-
ian unity and the security Of her from
tiers. No condition has ever been i'm
posed by Italy which is in contradic-
ton with the principles of liberty and
Justice and which does not represent a
legitimate national aspiration, a proved
historical right or an impelling pre-
caution for security.
Seeks Unity of Peoples
mo one can accuse of imperialism
country which, afflicted throughout cen
turies by foreign conquests, and sub
Jected to repeated invasion, desires at
last to reunite all her children and to
place against new incursions that bar
rier of mountains with which nature
has surrounded her.
"And who but ourselves, taught by
centuries of suffering, can best Judge