ITALY. 



409 



currency, the conversion of the landed property 

 of confraternities and parishes, the imposition 

 of a tax upon the manufacture of home-made 

 sugar, and the introduction of changes in the 

 customs tariff. Alluding to the treaties of 

 commerce, Signer Depretis said: "I hope that 

 the moderation and equity of our demands will 

 he appreciated, and that a conclusion will be 

 arrived at. I cannot consent to long prolonga- 

 tion of the old treaties, and I shall remain un- 

 shakable in my resolution to exact parity of 

 treatment." Finally, the ministry presented 

 bills for creating a ministry of the Treasury, and 

 making other .administrative changes, as well 

 as for limiting the circulation of paper money, 

 and establishing a sinking fund of 20,000,000 

 lire. The Chamber subsequently adjourned for 

 the Easter recess until the 9th of April. The 

 Italian Green-book on the Eastern Question 

 was presented on April 9th to the diplomatic 

 corps, and on the 10th to Parliament. It con- 

 tained 510 documents, ranging between the 

 dates of July 17, 1875, to February 10, 1877, 

 none of which, however, were said to be of 

 any importance. A number of documents were 

 afterward added, which showed that Italy had 

 suggested the well-known voluntary declara- 

 tion of Russia, when the Protocol was in dan- 

 ger through the opposition of Great Britain. 

 On April 23d, the Chamber of Deputies were 

 occupied with the con- 

 sideration of the course 

 pursued by the Gov- 

 ernment on the East- 

 ern Question. Signor 

 Visconti Venosta asked 

 to be informed by the 

 Minister of Foreign 

 Affairs what degree of 

 truth there was in cur- 

 rent reports that Italy 

 had entered into an 

 undertaking with one 

 more than with an- 

 other of the guaran- 

 teeing Powers. He did 

 not ask for any declara- 

 tions which might im- 

 pede liberty of action 

 in future eventualities, 

 but he wished to be as- 

 sured that Italy would 

 maintain a strict neu- 

 trality; that she would 

 do nothing to create 

 doubts as to her inten- 

 tions ; that she did not 

 intend to increase her 

 armaments so as to 



arouse the distrust of other Powers. Signer 

 Musolina. a member of the Left, declared him- 

 self a greater Turk than the Sultan. He de- 

 nied the right of Europe to intermeddle in the 

 internal affairs of Turkey. He asserted that 

 Turkey had fulfilled all her promises of reform, 

 and censured the Government for not having 



formed a European coalition against Russia. 

 Italy, he affirmed, could take the initiative by 

 resolving the Eastern Question in a moment, 

 and if war broke out the Turkish blood would 

 be on their heads. The atrocities in Bulgaria 

 and the insurrections in the Slav Provinces, he 

 said, were the work of Russian agents and the 

 result of Russian machinations, and he laid 

 upon the table a large bundle of documents in, 

 proof of his assertions. 



The Duke of Colonna da Cesaro asked if any 

 interchange of ideas had been made between 

 the Powers to secure the neutrality of Rouma- 

 nia. He said additional precautions would be 

 necessary to protect Italians and Italian inter- 

 ests, for if war broke out it would be a religious 

 war. From an examination of a green-book, 

 together with a blue-book, he approved the 

 policy of the Government as that of a liberal 

 nation interested in the condition of oppressed 

 peoples, but, at the same time, maintaining its 

 treaty obligations and its desire for peace. He 

 maintained that Italy had been active and im- 

 partial, and had not sided either with Turkey 

 or with Russia. He trusted to hear his words 

 confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 

 and a declaration from him of his intention to 

 observe the most strict neutrality until the in- 

 terests of the nation might require a different 

 course. Replies were made to the different 



PIAZZA DEL FOPOLO, ROME. 



speakers both by the Minister of Foreign Af- 

 fairs and the President of the Council. They 

 declared in the most formal manner that Italy 

 had emerged from the lengthy negotiation upon 

 the Eastern Question free from any ties whatso- 

 ever, and on the best terms with all the Pow- 

 ers indiscriminately. The ministers declared 



