Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/269

 1899.] Italy. — The Pope and the Peace Congress. 261

proposed by Sgr. Tajani, rejecting the minister's estimates Because, on the motion of Sgr. Finocchiaro, he had added to them a further expenditure. The Senate on the following day (Jan. 16) endorsed the committee's action, and rejected the whole estimates on the ground that they were excessive. The Ministry, however, found a way out of the difficulty by under- taking to bring forward a bill reorganising the central adminis- tration. Upon this the Senate expressed its readiness to resume the discussion of the Budget.

The Franco-Italian treaty of commerce was keenly debated in four long sittings (Jan. 25), but ultimately the Chamber adopted an order of the day, moved by Sgr. Pinchia, to the effect that having heard the views of the Government, and approving the terms of the treaty, the House passed to the consideration of its articles, and ultimately the treaty was accepted by 225 to 34 votes. Sgr. Crispi's organ H Mattino expressed strong disap- proval of this decision, maintaining that Italy was being duped by the proposed arrangements. This view, however, met with little support, and a few days later Sgr. Fortis obtained without difficulty a vote 1,300,000 lire to cover the expenses of the representation of Italy at the Paris Exhibition.

Troubles at home, however, continued to harass the Minis- try. At Leghorn, the police, scenting a plot, arrested a number of anarchists. In the Cnamber (Feb. 1) the Election Committee reported in favour of declaring vacant the seats occupied by Socialists, Turati at Milan and Deandreis at Eavenna, who had been found guilty of participation in the troubles of the previous year. Sgr. Bovio wished to postpone dealing with the matter, but his motion was defeated by 214 to 45 votes ; and on the next occasion (Feb. 4) the Chamber decided to refer to the Minister of Justice all the papers and petitions referring to the amnesty. So far this was a success for the Government, but only a parliamentary one, for out of doors there was but too serious evidence of the activity of the foes to the dynasty and to public order.

The Catholics were already up in arms in consequence of the attitude of the Government towards the invitation of Eussia to attend the Peace Congress. By an officious note published in Vltalie the Cabinet declared that if the Pope were invited to take part in the Congress Italy would hold aloof. Now it had happened that Cardinal Eampolla, Secretary of State to the Holy See, had already opened negotiations on this subject with M. Tcharykof, the Eussian minister, and had promised that Leo XIIL would exercise his influence upon all faithful Catho- lics to give support to the Czar's pacific wishes. The attitude taken up by the Italian Government could not fail to give great annoyance to the Pope, as was speedily shown. On the occasion of the death of M. Felix Faure a funeral service was held (Feb. 23) at the church of St. Luigi dei Franchi, on which occasion Cardinal Eampolla pronounced the absolution. The