and Florence; but although they proved interesting in themselves,
defective management, an exceptionally hot summer and an
outbreak of cholera made them financially unsuccessful; the
charges of dishonesty brought against certain officials in con-
nexion with them proved, however, unfounded.
The Cabinet's programme, presented to the Chamber on April 6, included an extension of the franchise, increasing the number of voters from three millions to eight, the payment of members, and a Government monopoly of life insurance. These bills were chiefly designed to win the favour of the Extreme Left, but found little support in the country and aroused much opposition even in Parliament, especially as regards the insurance bill. The monopoly, however, eventually became an important source of revenue. The final debate on these bills was adjourned to the autumn, and the Chamber rose on July 10. In the summer a dispute broke out with Argentina over the sanitary measures which the latter wished to impose on Italian immigrants in connexion with the cholera epidemic. An agreement was con- cluded on Aug. 17 1912, giving full satisfaction to Italy.
During the last few years relations with Turkey had become strained. With the advent topowerof the Young Turks the si tua- tion got worse instead of better, and the new Ottoman Turkey. Government, while hating all things foreign, showed particular animosity towards Italy, whom it re- garded as the weakest of the Great Powers. Italian enter- prise throughout Turkey was hampered, especially in Tripolitana, where Italy's reversionary interest had been recognized by Britain and France. Italy had intended to extend her influence in that province by peaceful means, but numerous diplomatic incidents embittered the feeling on both sides, while the reopen- ing of the Morocco question by Germany made it clear that the last unoccupied lands in the Mediterranean were about to be divided up, and that Italy's final chance of acquiring a colony on the North African coast had come. The Nationalist party, which had been constituted at the Florence Congress in Dec. 1910, had conducted a propaganda in favour of a more vigorous foreign policy, in opposition to the professed anti-patriotism of the Socialists and the sentimental pacifism of the Democrats and now roused public opinion to the need for bold action. Although the Cabinet was anxious to avoid international complications it could not afford to disregard the new spirit animating the Italian people. In July it informed the Powers that the conduct of Turkey was becoming intolerable, and as no improvement in the situation occurred, military preparations were commenced on Sept. 20. On the 23rd the class of 1888 was called back to the colours, and on the 26th a Note was presented to the Porte calling its attention to the risks to which Moslem fanaticism was subjecting Italian residents in Turkey, and adding that the sending of reenforcements or arms to Tripolitana would be regarded as "a very serious act." The next day the Turkish steamer " Derna," flying the German flag, arrrived at Tripoli and landed 15,000 rifles and much ammunition, which were dis- tributed among the local Arabs. The Italian Government presented an ultimatum to Turkey on the 28th, and, no satis- faction having been obtained, declared war on the 29th (see ITALO-TURKISH WAR). Public opinion supported the Govern- ment in its African policy, which was not merely a colonial adventure, but represented a patriotic reaction against the bad old policy of " quieto vivere," while the gallantry displayed by officers and men offered a welcome relief from the petty bickerings of Parliamentary politics.
On Nov. 4 1911, Italian sovereignty was extended to Tripoli- tana and Cyrenaica (as the eastern part of the Tripoli vilayet was now called) by royal decree. The international preparation of the African war had been inadequate, and public opinion and the press in foreign countries were not well disposed. The most violent attacks came from the German and Austrian press, and the Austrian Government placed its veto on the extension of Italy's military and naval operations to the Balkans. France was also not too friendly, and the stopping and searching by Italian cruisers of the French steamers "Carthage" and " Manouba," suspected of conveying contraband to the Turkish
Socialist
split.
forces, provoked a serious Franco-Italian diplomatic incident and caused a violent outbreak of anti-Italian feeling in France. Although the episode was settled by arbitration at The Hague, it did not improve relations between the two countries. Various unsuccessful attempts at mediation were made by the Powers, but in July 1912 unofficial negotiations were opened between Italian and Turkish delegates in Switzerland. After laborious discussions the peace preliminaries were signed at Ouchy on Oct. 14, and the final peace treaty on the i8th. Turkey renounced her sovereignty over Libya (as the whole territory was now called), and undertook to withdraw her troops from it, the Sultan retaining only spiritual authority over his former subjects, while Italy agreed to restore to Turkey the islands she had occupied in the Aegean during the war (Rhodes and n islands out of the 12 constituting the Dodecanese) as soon as Turkey fulfilled her own undertaking. Although the settlement gave Italy the objects for which she had fought, it was not considered satisfactory by public opinion, which believed that if the Government had conducted the campaign with more vigour and supported the gallant efforts of the troops more adequately, a fuller victory might have been obtained in a shorter time. The total cost of the campaign amounted to 458,000,000 lire, including the value of uncorisumed supplies; this sum was paid out of the budget surpluses of the last few years, redeemable Treasury bills, Treasury reserves, credits with banks, etc. No new loans were raised, nor fresh taxes imposed. Business had not been much affected; in fact exports and revenue continued to increase.
An unsuccessful attempt on the King's life by an anarchist named D'Alba on March 14 1912, provoked an enthusiastic demonstration of loyalty among all classes. The insurance monopoly, the extension of the franchise and payment of members were voted without much opposi- tion, as Parliament did not wish to embarrass the Ministry dur- ing the war. The Socialist party had always opposed the war because it feared that patriotic feeling would divert public inter- est from the class war on which Socialism battened. But some of its ablest leaders refused to put party before country and supported the Government's African policy; the result was that at the Socialist Congress of Reggio Emilia (June 1912) they were " excommunicated " by the majority. The party thus split into two separate groups or those who were ready to collaborate with the Constitutional parties, calling themselves " Reformist " Socialists and comprising such men as Sig. Bissolati and Sig. Bonomi, both future Ministers, and the others who remained uncompromisingly hostile to the constitution and assumed the style of "Official" Socialists. The Reformists ended by beii absorbed into the Liberal groups, while the Official Socialisi assumed a more and more revolutionary attitude.
In Nov. 1912 a new Ministry of the Colonies was created, with Sig. Bertolini as minister. His attempt to extend to the African territories the less desirable features of the home bureaucratic system greatly hindered their peaceful development. The peace of Ouchy did not immedi- ately put an end to the fighting in Libya. Most of Tripolitana was quickly pacified, except in the Garian, where a large body of rebels under Suleiman el Baruni held out until they were defeated by Gen. Lequio's column at Assaba. The situation proved more difficult in Cyrenaica, where a number of Turkish officers and soldiers, as well as local Arab chiefs, commanded by Aziz Bey and acting under the inspiration of the head of the powerful Senussi sect, organized resistance and caused considerable trouble which resulted in serious fighting. The extent of occupied ter- ritory gradually increased, but sporadic outbreaks among the tribesmen of the interior continued.
The parliamentary session following on the conclusion of the peace, which was ratified Dec. 4, was a somewhat agitated one. The Socialists attacked the Cabinet for its war policy with their usual violence, supported by a few non- Socialist democrats while the scandals which came to light in connexion with the building of the new Pal- ace of Justice, implicating three or four deputies, provided ma- terial for "scenes" in the Chamber. Adml. Leonardi Cattolica
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