ENGLAND AND ITALY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1
Snt,—The following rough translation of an article in the Tribuna of Rome dealing with your article on "England and Italy" in the Spectator of October 25th may prove of interest to your readers :— "The important review, the Spectator, whose intimate relations with the Foreign Office are well known, has, a. propos of the visit of Kitchener to Rome, published under the title of England and Italy' an article which is so sympathetic and affectionate towards our country that it merits quotation. The article premises that the words spoken by Kitchener—' Every Englishman has two countries, old England and young Italy '—are not a mere compli- ment, but represent a real fact and an historical truth, and says that the English feel towards Italy sentiments which they do not cherish towards any other nation. They participate in the joys and sorrows of Italy, as if it were a question of their own country. After expounding the historical, intellectual, and moral causes which form this community of affections and ideas between Italy and England, the author of the article asks himself if the Italians feel with equal warmth sympathy towards the English, and does not hesitate to reply affirmatively to his question, having regard, above all, to the classes which may morally and socially be termed the upper classes, and those which are not under clerical influence."
After quoting the end of your article in full, the Tribuna concludes with the following comment :— " These and other manifestations of the English Press show how mistaken is the opinion that the policy which has led to the rapprochement with France has alienated England. Never, indeed, has English public opinion shown itself so favourable to our country, and to a practical and effective intimacy between the two Governments."
[We are naturally gratified by the goodwill of the Tribuna, but we think our readers will smile at the sug- gestion of intimate relations between this paper, and the British Foreign Office.—En. Spectator.]
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