neutral, and, when this seemed doubtful, to negotiate between
Italy and Austria what territorial compensation the latter
would render the former in order to perpetuate the neutrality
of the Peninsula.

Aside from the influence of these official acts, which invited
press comments, the Italian papers have paid keen attention to
the conduct of the war, concerning which the Government could
not, on account of its neutrality, offer an opinion. Among
such incidents of conduct have been the British declaration of
a protectorate over Egypt and the bombardment of the
Dardanelles by the Franco-British fleet.

In order to weigh the full significance of the comments of the
Italian papers on these subjects a word may be said concerning
the status of the journals themselves:

The most conspicuous is the Idea Nazionale, a paper of Rome
practically dedicated to intervention. Then comes the
conservative and solid Corriere della Sera of Milan, whose
Rome correspondent, Signor Torre, has peculiar facilities for
learning the intentions of the Ministry. Both the Tribuna and
the Giornale d'Italia are considered Government organs, but,
while the former rarely comments with authority except on
accomplished facts, the latter, although often voicing the
unofficial 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-Hun