and personal opinions of Premier Salandra, who is known to be privately in favor of intervention, also voices the sentiment of former Premier Giolitti, who is known to be for continued neutrality.  The Stampa of Turin is a Giolitti organ.

The Osservatore Romano is the well-known Vatican organ, which naturally supports Austria, a Catholic country, where such support does not conflict too pointedly with the sentiments of Catholics in neutral countries.  Other clerical papers with strong pro-German opinions and with German industrial backing are the Corriere d’Italia and the Popolo Romano.  The Messaggero of Rome and the Secolo of Milan, influenced by important British and French interests, are for intervention at all costs.  The Avanti is the Socialist organ.

CAUSES OF ITALY’S NEUTRALITY.

From the Corriere della Sera, Aug. 2, 1914:

Italy’s decision to remain neutral is based on three causes: 

1.  The terms of the Triple Alliance call for Italy’s participation in war only if Germany or Austria-Hungary is attacked by another power.  The present war is not a defensive war, but one brought on by Austria-Hungary and Germany.

2.  The spirit of the alliance demands that no warlike action be taken involving the three countries without full mutual discussion and agreement.  Italy was not even consulted by Austria-Hungary and the course of events was brought to her knowledge only by news agency reports.

3.  When Italy went to war with Turkey, Austria prevented her from acting with a free hand in the Adriatic and the Aegean, thereby prolonging the war at an enormous cost in men and money to Italy.  Italy would be justified in acting in precisely the same manner now toward Austria-Hungary.

From Secolo, Sept. 3, 1914:

During the last few days we have assisted at a deplorable example of our Latin impressionability.  The first German victories have made Italians waver, and Germany is taking advantage of the popular nervousness, and is working on public opinion in countless ways.  Italy is invaded by Germans, who assert that Germany will issue victorious, and that her commercial and industrial activity will not be arrested.  We are inundated with German letters, telegrams, newspapers, and private communications from German commercial houses, all asserting that Germany will win, and that Italy should keep neutral, to be on the winning side.

We are not of that opinion.  We cannot lose sight of England.  Germany knows that England represents her great final danger, hence the bitterness with which she speaks of England in all the above communications.  England is not playing a game of bluff.  She is not impotent by land, as Germany says, and may give Germany a mortal blow by sea.  The war may possibly end in a titanic duel between England and Germany.  In this case England will go through with the struggle calmly and grimly, smiling at difficulties and disregarding losses.