Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/272

 264] FOEEIGN HISTOEY. [1899.

much ability and intimately associated with Baron Sonnino. At the Foreign Office a similar post was given to Professor Fusinato, who had already been selected as delegate of the Italian Government to the conference at the Hague. In the lobbies of Monte Citorio General Pelloux' Cabinet was described as a Ministry of the Eight presided over by a man of the Left.

On the reassembling of Parliament (May 25) Sgr. Zanar- delli gave in his resignation of the presidency of the Chamber, but the Prime Minister urged that it should not be accepted, and this suggestion was at once acted upon. After enumerating the various bills he proposed to introduce, he insisted that the Budget should be taken forthwith and disposed of before taking up the political measures. He gave his word that the inde- pendence of Parliament should in no way be compromised on the Chinese question, and in return for this undertaking he expressed the hope that any interpellation on the subject should meanwhile be withdrawn. A similar statement was made in the Senate.

On the Chamber resuming, it was announced that Sgr. Zanardelli maintained his resignation on the ground, as he ex- plained, that the Chamber might affirm its wish by an expres- sion of its high and inherent prerogative, which gave strength and dignity to parliamentary government. This declaration gave rise to some party skirmishing ; General Pelloux wishing the vote to be taken at a later date (May 30) in order that absent deputies might return to give their votes. Sgr. Villa, on the other hand, suggested that the election should be taken three days earlier, but on a division he was defeated by 196 to 18 votes, and 10 abstentions.

In the interval the sittings of the Chambers were marked by repeated disturbances. Sgr. Crispi seized the opportunity (May 26) to deliver himself of an apology for his course of action. A violent debate ensued, in the course of which Sgr. Ferri having used an expression which was considered insulting to the Army, it was found necessary to bring the sitting to an abrupt close. On the following day the President of the Coun- cil, although at first interrupted, was able to make an eulogy of the Army, which was received with applause by all but the members of the extreme Left. General Pelloux at once seized the opportunity and invited the Minister for War to communi- cate to the Army the incidents of the sitting ; but offering no formal resolution on the point. In fact both sides were content with skirmishes while awaiting a general trial of strength on the question of the Presidency of the Chamber. Sgr. Biancheri, as on a previous occasion, had refused to allow his name to be put forward, and thereupon the ex-Garibaldian, Sgr. Chinaglia, now a member of the Eight, overcoming his feigned reluctance, was adopted and elected by 223 votes against 193 given to Sgr. Zanardelli. These numbers did not represent more than half the deputies, but in Italy as elsewhere excess of zeal was not