King Humbert of Italy has made an effort to approach
France, through an interviewer on the staff of the Figaro, --an effectual if not perhaps a dignified way. The King in his speech GO the reporter denies absolutely that Italy seeks or -desires a war, "neither our Budget, which unfortunately has a deficit, nor our will, nor our reason permits it." Italy has sacrificed everything for unity, and is not likely to stake it -on a game the issue of which for all nations is so uncertain. The Budget of France may yet drag her into warlike aspira- tions, but on Italy economy is imposed; moreover, even victory to-day would be so terrible, accompanied by such hecatombs of men, followed by such rivers of blood, that no Sovereign would seek it. As for the Italian Army, it has not forgotten
Solferino and Magenta, any more than Italians have forgotten that they, like Frenchmen, are people of the South, and brothers in blood. What Italy wants of France is a repeal of the ruinous Meline tariff. The appeal is a strong one, but the French receive it with pleasure only because they see in it evidence that Italy is suffering. The unanimous reply of the Parisian Press is that Italy shall have no commercial concessions until she has abandoned the Triple Alliance; which is impossible, at least until the Treaty expires. Even then Italy will probably believe that her only guarantee against French hatred, excited mainly by her unity, is the friendship of the Central Powers. King Humbert's speech is, however, noteworthy testimony to the justice of the view that this time it is not the Kings who are seeking war.
