Last Saturday Baron Sonnino described the main proposals of the
new Italian Cabinet to the Chamber. The programme will not be explained in detail till after the Christmas holidays. The Times correspondent says that the Prime Minister laid special stress on the creation of two new Ministries—of Labour and of Railways—and asked leave to refer them directly to the General Committee of the Budget, as that would be the quickest method of bringing them into being. This course was adopted;apparentLy on the underetanding that the general
opinion of the Chamber was not irrevocably committed. For the rest, Baron Sonnino frankly declared that it was impossible to reduce taxation. The debate offered no clue as to whether he will End in the old Giolittian majority enough Deputies ready to help him to carry through his policy. In any case, he will probably behave with his usual candour, and refuse to yield to the temptation familiar in Chambers composed of many political groups and sacrifice some vital principle in order to make up a working. majority.
