The annoyance produced in Italy by the Berlin Treaty, which
aggrandised Austria on the Adriatic without giving Italy any com- pensation, has resulted in the fall, or rather the modification, of the Cabinet. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs, War, and Marine have, it is believed, resigned, and it will be difficult for the Premier, S. Cairoli, to remain. The incident is chiefly important as showing that the desire for an "enterprising policy" affects all classes of Italians, and that the King will have the greatest difficulty in maintaining a Government, unless he gives the national feeling some scope. The people are irritated, not at this or that event, but at the apparent want of weight of Italy in Europe. Should the ferment not subside, the King will be forced, as he cannot attack Austria, into his natural line of policy,—an alliance with Greece, to assist her to recover her own territory up to the Rhodope, and so, while liberating some millions of Christians, to create a counterpoise to the influence of Austria in the Adriatic.
Previous page
