ITALY: Notes, Jan. 7, 1924

La Tribuna, Rome journal, announced that the “beneficence of the Holy See toward relief work in Central Europe” has amounted to more than $3,000,000.

Premier Benito Mussolini and Richard Washburn Child, U. S. Ambassador to Italy, lately returned to his post in Rome from leave of absence spent in the U. S., were closeted together in conference for half an hour. Premier Mussolini showed the deepest interest “in American public opinion as regards Italian affairs.” The conference was to have been continued.

The Ducal Palace in Venice, one of the most famous buildings in that city, is to become the property of the municipality following a decision of the Cabinet. At present the building is the property of the Italian Government and the decision to cede it to Venice was made “in keeping with the ancient Character of the building and its place in the history of the Republic* and Venice.”

Commenting upon the Franco-Czech Treaty (See page 8), the Italian press was at one in criticizing France. Random excerpts:

“The Little Entente, which was born to fight the phantom of the Habsburgs, has today become the magnificent instrument of France’s last domination in Europe.”

“Italy entered the War to escape the threat of German domination and is now confronted with the threat of French domination.”

“France is copying Germany’s imperial policy, not only in her efforts to monopolize trade control, but in her schemes in Saloniki and Greece.”

“Italy must watch against the French danger.”

* Venice was a republic for 1,100 years, the first doge being elected in 697. The end of her independence came with Napoleon’s Austrian campaign in 1797.