LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Letters of the length of -one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which -fill treble the space.]
ITALY AND THE IRISH TREATY.
ITo THE EDITOR or THE " SPECVATOR."] SIR,---As an Italian who has enjoyed the hospitality of the shores of Great Britain and also of Ireland, and who has followed the Irish controversy with more than passing interest, may I be permitted to say that I have read with some surprise the 'recent statement of. Mr. Lloyd George that theirish Treaty
" had undoubtedly enhanced the prestige of Great Britain throughout the world "? So far as Italy is concerned, if one can form an opinion from articles in the Italian Press and from conversations I have had, I would say that exactly the reverse is the ease. The general feeling in Italy is that no real friend of Great Britain, who has any regard for the true interests of Great Britain and Ireland, can rejoice at the recent Treaty. History and bitter experience have taught the Italians the misery and chaos of being a divided country and a prey to designing foreigners. lip to 1492 Italy had been a prosperous, united, and independent state. From that time her troubles began, brought about by-disintegration and internal struggles, which encouraged her foreign neighbours to inter- fere. The long period of alien intervention only ceased after 300 years of war, ending with. the " Guerre d'Indepeudensa," which cost the Italians endless sacrifices, privations, and loss. The remembrance of the horrors which their ancestors endured is still viva Their lesson is deeply engraved, and Italians is general feel that the separation of Ireland from. Great Britain . is but the beginning of disaster for both.
'Rome was once the centre of a-great and powerful empire, whose dominions extended over .a large part of the then known world. It ceased to be -great and powerful when it became divided up. One often hears the question asked to-day, How has it come about that Great Britain, who has always honour- ably beaten her foes, who conquered Napoleon, and who, with her Allies, recently smashed the compact armies of William of Prussia, has 13.0W surrendered to a band of rebels within her own borders, and at their bidding has allowed the United Kingdom-to be broken up? If politicians of to-day will only study Roman history and the history of -modern Italy, they -will learn how easy a thing it is to divide up a powerful country which has been consolidated by the blood and self- -sacrifice of their ancestors, and how much more difficult a thing it is to rebuild the edifice which has been broken down. It is significant' that ,when, on the signing of the Treaty, the sug- gestion was made to send an official message of congratulation to Mr. Lloyd George, it was rightly remarked that Italy could not yet send such a message being a true and faithful friend of Great Britain, who wishes her peace—peace which will bring happiness to all 'British subjects, and not disintegration aad the commencement of internecine struggles. One can only hope that what is acclaimed to-day by British politician",, contrary to our own experience, as an act of statesmanship .may not in fact prove to have been an act of folly.—I am, Sir,
Bordighera, Italy.
S. RUGILINI.
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