REVISION OF TREATIES
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sne,—In your article on " The Four Powers and Europe" (The Spectator, March 25th) you state that " nowhere can a stronger case be made for revision than in regard to the Southern Tyrol which, with its German-speaking population Italy acquired from Austria in 1920." I do not wish here to enter into the merits of this question, although, of course, there are innumerable other areas where a far stronger case for revision can be made out, especially because the exidenee of the present situation south of the Brenner is far less likely to lead to international strife than the situation on other territories. But I trust you will allow me to remind you that the present Brenner frontier was assigned to Italy by
the Treaty of London of April 26th, 1915, subscribed to by Great Britain, France and Russia, and that even President Wilson, in spite of his bitter anti-Italian bias and his professed horror of " secret treaties," agreed to this solution oil April 14th, 1919, without raising any difficulties or objections. Nor has there ever been a definite demand for the re-annexa- tion of the territory to. Austria ; the Austrian Government, which is on the best of terms with that of Italy, has indeed repeatedly stated that its only interest in the " Siid-Tirol " was a cultural one.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Hotel Splendide, Piccadilly, W.1. LUIGI VILLARI.
[What title had anyone to " assign " part of an undefeated Austria to Italy in 1915 ? And does Signor Villari seri- ously stiggest that the inhabitants of the South Tyrol have never demanded its return to Austria ?—ED. The Spectator.]
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