The Memoirs of Francesco Crispi

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI 7 /^ / \j? IJl THE MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI Compiled from Crispi's Diary and other Documents by THOMAS PALAMENGHI-CRISPI Translated by MARY PRICHARD-AGNETTI VOLUME III INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS HODDER AND STOUGHTON ST. PAUL'S HOUSE, WARWICK SQUARE LONDON, E.G. MCMXIV r 7 '^ ^ — CONTENTS Germany, Italy, and France CHAPTER I CHANCET,I,OR CAPRIVT AND CRISPI PAGE L. von Caprivi announces to Crispi that he has assumed the direction of Germany's poHtical affairs—An exchange of greetings and protestations of loyalty— Caprivi comes to Italy to confer with Crispi — Interviews of November 7 and 8, 1 890, ...... 1 CHAPTER H TRIPOLI AND FRANCE The Triple Alliance and Italian interests in northern Africa—France on the Tripoli-Tunis frontier as early as 1890—A memorial by General Dal Verme on the historic boundary between Tunis and Tripoli —The Anglo-French agreement of August 5, 1 890— Crispi remonstrates with the English government—'Said Pasha's note on the Hinterland of Tripoli —How the final usurpations by France might have been prevented — Crispi and the French government, which disavows all intention of claiming Tripoli—A new French map of Africa— Minister Ribot's declarations to the Chamber Crispi's protest—State of the question in 1894<—The Franco-German convention— France attempts to en- croach upon the Egyptian Sudan — Fashoda — New Anglo-French agreements to the disadvantage of the Tripoli Hinterland— Italy relinquishes her rights in Tunis without compensation—The Franco-Italian agreement of 1902— Crispi's activity in Moi'occo—The Italian occupation of Tripoli and an evil omen, . 18 — viii MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI CHAPTER III THE FORTIFICATIONS OF BISERTA PACK ' Bisertathe 'greatest strategical point on the Mediterranean — Crispi prevents its fortification by France —The agreements of 1881, which had been ratified by several French ministei-s, are declared by Ribot to be of no value Germany's astonishment at Ribot's theories — Lord Salisbury places reliance in the declaration made by France that she will not fortify Biserta—A memorandum from Crispi to Salisbury—Chancellor Caprivi and the Italian protest— Possibility of war—Crispi's withdrawal from office leaves France free to act—Biserta and the German General Staft"— Crispi's painful anxiety revealed in a letter to King Humbert— Biserta strongly fortified, the pride of France and a menace to Italy, ... 85 Italy and Austria CHAPTER IV THE ITALO-AUSTRIAN RELATIONS AND IRREDENTISM The birth of anti-Austrian Irredentism—The campaign of 1866 —Andrassy's point of view and the task of diplomacy—The IiTedentist movement in 1899—De- clarations in Parliament and corresponding diplomatic policy followed by Crispi— Dissolution of the Committee pro Trent and Triest—Francis Joseph's opinion of Crispi —The Emperor regrets not being able to come to Rome—The Ulmann trial ; how it came to be abandoned by the Austrian government—The dissolution of the Pro Palria Society and of the Dante Alighieri— Crispi protests—The Crispi-Nigra correspondence — Irredentist agitation—Dissolution of the Oberdank and Barsanti clubs—The Pro Patria allowed to re-form as the Lega Nazionale—Austria and Crispi's —A CONTENTS ix PAGE resignation in 1891 —Trouble in Istria in 1894— Crispi is successful in obtaining the intervention of Emperor William—Ambassador Lanza— Kalnoky withdraws from office, 109 Italy and Fhance CHAPTER V FRANCO-ITALIAN RELATIONS BETWEEN 1890 AND 1896 The political stage and statesmen in France—The Am- bassadors De Moiiy and Mariani, and Minister Spuller —How Monsieur Billot was received—His conciliatory action —The launching of the Sardegna and the visit of the French fleet at Spezia, which did not take place French illusions concerning the Hon. di Rudim—The Triple Alliance renewed— Crispi's second Ministry— sequel to the Aigues-Mortes episode—The conciliatory policy—Maurice Rouvier and a secret mission—Am- bassador Ressman's correspondence—Ressman's recall, and its true causes, . , . .177 CHAPTER VI FRENCH OPPOSITION TO ITALIAN CREDIT Hostility of the French world of finance —War against Italian securities—Crispi seeks the intervention of German finance—Bismarck and the agreements of 1888 —The 'depreciation campaign' in 1889—The French press unanimous in advocating the expulsion of Italian securities from France—German bankers once more come to the rescue, and form a Syndicate in 1890 Foundation of the Istitido Italiano di Credito Fondiario —Foundation of the Banco Commerciale Italiano, under Crispi's auspices, ........ 209 VOL. III.— h —— X MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI Italy and the Vatican CHAPTER VII AN ITALO-PORTUGUESE INCIDENT PAGE His ^Most Faithful Majesty ' to visit the Italian Sovereign in Rome—The official announcement of this visit—The Vatican's veto—Embarrassment and indecision of King Carlos and his government— King Carlos appeals to Crispi—Severe comments of the Portuguese press King Carlos asks to be received at Monza^ but King Humbert refuses —The visit must be forgone—Crispi suspends diplomatic relations with Portugal—The Crispi- Vasconcellos conference — Opinions of different diplo- matists concerning the conduct of the Portuguese Ministry—The remote origin of the downfall of monarchy in Portugal, . .224 Europe and the Eastern Question CHAPTER VIII THE BALKAN QUESTION In 1879 Crispi expresses his faith in the possibility of re- organising the Balkan Peninsula on a basis of national- ities— His criticism of the Berlin Treaty with regard to the Balkan Peninsula—Three unpublished interviews between Crispi and Prince Bismarck—The second phase of the Bulgarian Question, and the Triple Alliance between Italy, England, and Austria—Turkey declares to Prince Ferdinand that his sojourn in Bulgaria is illegal—Failure of the Russian policy—Stambuloff thanks Crispi in the name of the Bulgarian people The Russo-Bulgarian reconciliation—Two addresses to Crispi forwarded by the Eastern Confederation—^The Cretan Question and Turkish misgovernment— Crispi and Albania—Crispi finds a bride for the future king of —A CONTENTS xi PAGE Italy in Montenegro—The Balkan Confederacyj with — Constantinople as capital ' Let the Sultan withdraw ! into Asia ' 246 CHAPTER IX THE ARMENIAN MASSACRES AND THE EUROPEAN CONCERT Gladstone and the Armenian massacres—The Powers demand an international investigation—The Sultan entreats the delegates of the Powers not to examine the witnesses— Results of the investigation and the Sultan's refusal to grant the reforms proposed to him —Russia opposed to coercive measures against the Sultan—Fresh massacres—The Ambassadors demand a second guardship at Constantinople—The European fleet in the Levant—England wishes to depose the Sultan, . 288 The Triple Alliance and England CHAPTER X A CRISIS CONCERNING THE ALLIANCES AND AGREEMENTS The foreign policy of Crispi's successors from 1891 to 1893 — Immediate consequences of Italy's inertia in Eastern affairs, pointed out by Blanc—Germany and Austria desire Crispi's return to office—Crispi's interview with the German and Austro-Hungarian Ambassadors—Dis- order at home in 1893-94 affects Italy's ci-edit abroad William ii. and Crispi —Why Caprivi resigned the German Chancellorship— Hohenlohe's appointment William ii. favourably inclined towards Italy—Crispi and the Anglo-German disagreement concerning the Transvaal— Italy in international politics in 1896— xii MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI PAGE crisis concerning the alliances and agreements—Failure of attempts to re-establish former friendly understand- ing with England—From Crispi's Diary—Necessity of extending terms of the Triple Alliance for the pro- tection of Italian interests in the Mediterranean and the Orient—Crispi's vehement protests—The German Emperor announces his intention of coming to Italy to confer with Crispi ; but before the Emperor's arrival Crispi is obliged to withdraw from office, . .301 Index, . .351 — GERMANY, ITALY, AND FRANCE CHAPTER I CHANCELLOR CAPRIVI AND CRISPI L. von Caprivi announces to Crispi that he has assumed the direction of Germany's political affairs—An exchange of greetings and protestations of loyalty— Caprivi comes to Italy to confer with Crispi —Interviews of November 7 and 8, 1890. Ox the 20th of March 1890, William ii. of Germany appointed General Count L. von Caprivi, Chancellor of the Empire and President of the Prussian Ministry, as successor to Prince Otto von Bismarck. On assuming his high office, von Caprivi despatched the following letter to F. Crispi, who had been Minister of Italian Foreign Affairs since August 1887. (Private.) Berlin, ^;jn7 3, 1 890. Honourable President and dear Colleague, —By the wish of my Sovereign I have undertaken the task of directing the political affairs of Germany, as the immediate successor of the greatest statesman this country has ever had. My own inchnations as well as the logic of things in general having long since taught me to regard the present grouping of political friendships with strong approval, I had grown familiar with the idea of having, perhaps, to defend the principle on which it rests in my military capacity, should its defence become necessary. But my August Master has decided otherwise. He has called me to co-operate with statesmen who VOL. III. A — 2 MEMOIRS OF FRANCESCO CRISPI aim at the defence of the present state of affairs by essentially peaceful means. Matters standing thus, I beg to assure you. Honourable President, that as long as I shall continue to hold my present position, the German Empire will maintain its honest and peaceful policy, never swerving from the principle of remaining, under all circumstances, the true friend of its friends. This is the line of conduct my Sovereign as well as my own conscience imposes upon me. I therefore entreat Your Excellency to grant me your confidence in the performance of our common task. My confidence the Minister my country is happy to call its friend has long possessed.

Load more