File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎168v] (334/450)

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question, in which Italy is so vitally interested, were to be settled without her direct
participation.
Italy’s war is not merely national, but also European; and for Italy, as for others,
its solution must be European in scope. Her declaration of war on Turkey and
Bulgaria meant that she claimed to be present in the solution of the Eastern question.
The Eastern question is now open, and seems to be approaching solution. Italy is tlf~
ally of the Powers who opened it, and who are now about to solve it. She ought to
have from her allies an explicit recognition of her Oriental interests. As regard the
Balkans -it seems likely that Salonika will not be restored to Greece, but inter
nationalised in the interest of all the countries of the Balkan hinterland and of the
European countries. This idea, though not expressed, is diffused in many European
capitals. The commercial and cultural effects of such an arrangement would be very
great, and Italy must have her part in the matter. Then there is the question of the
southern limits of the new Serbia, and finally of Constantinople and the Straits, and
Bussia’s entry into the Mediterranean, which affects Italy as a Mediterranean Power.
Gayda then goes in great detail into the question of Italy’s and the Allies’
interests, railway concessions, and spheres of influence in Asia Minor. Before the war
the four Powers—England, Bussia, France, and Germany—had reached a definitive
agreement by means of reciprocal concessions. This agreement is important because it
provides a ready-made scheme for the new agreement under discussion among the Allies
which is to substitute actual possession for concessions of influence in Asiatic Turkey—
Germany’s share being apparently assigned to France.
Italy came late to Asia Minor, and only obtained a conditional concession for
preparatory work of the southern coast from the Gulf of Budrum as far as Adana.
And even this was contested by her neighbours—by the Germans, who did not want
to see Italy in Cilicia (in spite of the Triple Alliance), by the Austrians, and further
by the English, who wished to keep Italy out of the Gulf of Budrum, and who
talked of a plot on the part of the Triple Alliance to get command of the Eastern
Mediterranean.
It seemed that there was no place for Italy in Asia Minor while she formed part
of the Triple Alliance. But now the position is changed. Italy has taken her part in
the war, and has a right to her part in the settlement. England was very liberal in
her offers to Greece earlier in the war ; and Italy ought surely to rank before Greece.
The correspondent concludes by again urging that Italian troops should be sent to
Salonika as a symbol of Italy’s interests in the Eastern question.
An editorial note is appended to this article underlining the reference to Greece,
and refusing to believe it possible that the Government of Salandra can have neglected
in April 1915 to obtain guarantees for Italian interests in the East, or that the
Allies can expect Italy to establish each of her claims by some fresh enterprise and
fresh sacrifices.
[Taken from the “ Daily Beview ” (W.O.) for the 25th August.]
( 2 -)
On the 16th August the “Idea” returns to the question of “Italy’s Overseas’
Bights,” and amplifies and explains its case for an Italian Asia Minor :—
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Now that the Greek phantasm has once and for all been cleared out of the
way, the colonial policies of Bussia, France, and England leave open to Italy the
shores of Asia Minor.
Bussia, having made sure of her zone in Persia, now concentrates all her
efforts upon the conquest of Armenia ; indeed, so important does this zone seem
to Bussia that in order to devote all her energies to this end, she has made vast
concessions to Japan in the Far East. Again, it is obvious that England and Bussia
have come to an understanding about the Straits. With the definite annexation of
Egypt, England has realised what seemed to be but a fantastic dream : the
mastery of the gates of the Eastern Mediterranean. Still greater are England’s
triumphs in Arabia and Mesopotamia. With the revolt of the Arabs—an achieve
ment obviously hers—England has now under her influence all the Arabian coast
except the Yemen. She holds the best part of Mesopotamia, has blocked the
Bagdad Bailway, and thus possesses the key to the other route to Asia ; whilst her
occupation of Kerman consolidates her position and shields the frontier of India.