Evening journal., 1921-07-18
ITALY NEEDS
GERMAN help
BY HENRY WOOD.

NJnitcd Press STAN Correspondent
ROME. June S.-Fresh compilca-
tions for the Allies in the very near
future are now rapidly brewing In
the intense propaganda being carried
on in Austrian Tyrol for annexation
to Germany.
The supreme object 10 be attained
by this is to give Germany and Italy
la common boundary - something
that has been the dream OF Italian
and German statesmen ever since the
two countries attained their national
unity.
As a signatory OF the Versailles
treaty. wherein she has pledged her
self to oppose any annexation OF Ger
man-Austrian territory TO Germany,
Italy, officially al least. Is obliged 20
maintain a negative attitude in the
intense propaganda which is now
under way In Austrian Tyrol
However. italian statesmen and
politicians are unable either 10 deny
or conceal the fact that n by one
means or another this little strip Of
Austrian territory lying just north
of the Italian border al the Brenner
pass and just south Of Munich should
become a part Of German territory.
the advantages to italy would be al
most incalculahie.
One Of the ternai Nightmares from
which all Italian statesmen suffer is
that Of the manner In which Italy is
at all times at the mercy Of England
because OF the latter's control Of the
Mediterranean Italy as a maritime
power is dependent for her national
existence on her ability TO keep up
sea commerce with the rest OF the
world. especially for the importation
of coal. wheat and other essentials
for her life
Yet with England controlling both
the western entrance 20 the Mediter-
ranean TO Gibraltar and the eastern
az the Suez canal. she could at any
moment cut of Italy from all com.
merce with the rest Of the world and
reduce her 50 starvation and termi
in a very few weeks.
The thesis OF nearly all leadinl
Italian statesmen has therefore al
ways been that Italy's national safety
and existence depended upon con
nection with some northern countrl
that could always insure an outle
for her commerce through the north
ern seas as well as an inlet for i'm
portations. Manifestly. the countr!
best situated TO do this is Germany
and this was one Of the principa
considerations in Italy's membership
in the Triple Alliance before the wa
as well as the principal motive bacl
Of all Italian statesmen who hest
tated in the matter Of Italys takinl
sides with the Allies during the re
cent war.
The treaty of Versailles reducel
the territory which separates Ital
! from Germany TO an almost incon
+ siderable strip. The population
overwhelmingly German and il
, amongst this population that Ger
y many is carrying on an only too wei
r come propaganda for annexation {
p Germany.
b The lack Of a common frontie
, both the German and Italian econc
! mists point out constitutes the great
, est barrier To reciprocal ecQnoml
). development and relations OF the tW
countries, which would require
customs unity. The propagand
now being advocated is that the Tl
rol could be formed into an autonC
nous province and annexed 10 Ital
for the sake Of the common frontle
and reciprocal economic advantage
The propaganda TO this end Is bs
| ing carried on in such a manner tina
the situation created thereby ca
hardly escape much longer consider
- alton by the Allies.