Count Robilant, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the day
after made a widely different speech. He announced that the Government had seen with regret the deposition of Prince Alexander, "a Prince worthy of a better fate," and that it would adhere to the Austrian policy in maintaining the Treaty of Berlin. The Government would be vigilant, and in certain contingencies would act. This part of the speech, which was rapturously applauded, is understood throughout Italy to mean that the Kingdom joins the coalition which, in the event of war, would restrain Russia. Count Robilant also said that, "with England, we desire to maintain, and if necessary to develop, should events require it, that frank friendship which is the traditional policy of Italy, and which cannot alter." This statement, which was received with cheers from all sides of the House, must be read by the light of despatches recently published by the Italian Foreign Office, which affirm that the British occupation of Egypt is an Italian interest, because of the danger that if the British departed, the French would step in. These declarations, as we have explained elsewhere, materially modify the British position in the Mediterranean. We are not isolated there any longer.
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