.A third curious point in the revelations of La Marmora
is the extreme eagerness displayed by the Italian Government to make it up with Austria rather than with Prussia, on condition of the cession to Italy of Venetia " on almost any terms,"—and the vacillation of Austria on the subject, ending, unluckily for her, in a refusal. Even after the Prusso-Italian treaty was actually signed, and La Marmora had launched his celebrated circular, Bismarck, according to the Italian statesman, wanted to hold himself free to keep out of the war if he chose, having declared to General Govone, in answer to the question when Prussia would be-ready, since Italy would be ready in a month, that, looking to the. text of the treaty, the King did not " regard the obligation as. reciprocal." It is evident that La Marmora is no favourer of the Prussian alliance, and looks on Bismarck's statesmanship with distrust, and even fear. The German statesman is too Italian, too Machiavellian at least, for the soldierlike Piedmontese.
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