A serious debate in the Italian Chamber on foreign policy,.
which has greatly interested Italians, closed on the 16th in a decided victory for the Premier (S. Cairoli), who declared that Italy had no " peculiar designs ;" that she " would avoid alliances which might precipitate events ;" that she sought peace as an end ; but that she would remain free to "make special accords. in special circumstances." He denied altogether the rumours in the foreign Press as to expeditions in prospect, and promised to show neither toleration nor weakness towards the promoters. of "insane agitations," like that for Italia Irredenta. His whole party supported him, and it is clear that the Government has as yet entered into no entanglements. As the Italian alli- ance is earnestly sought both by Berlin and St. Petersburg,. this speech tends to show that the Italian Cabinet expects no- immediate war,—an idea strengthened, we think, by the proposition to abandon the grist-tax, and by the peremptory denial forwarded by the Italian Secretary of Marine of any inten- tion to send ironclads to Turkish waters.
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