ntral, co-ordinated authority.

It is an open secret that it was during Lloyd George's visit to France
at the beginning of the year that he first appreciated the scientific
organization of labor which our Allies had already achieved. Not content
with utilizing and extending the existing armament plant, the French
have long since diverted several temporarily irrelevant industries to
the main business of waging war.

_With reference to the drink problem The Times says:_

While the Government is apparently considering the expropriation of all
the licensed houses in the kingdom, this far-reaching proposal has not
at present gone beyond the stage of inquiry and consultation, and it is
tolerably certain that it will go no farther unless it is assured of no
serious opposition in the country.

The Parliamentary Opposition, the leaders of which have been consulted
in a general way, are believed to stand by the principle which they
followed since the war began, namely: They are not prepared to quarrel
with any measure which the Government regards as necessary for the
active prosecution of the war so long as no injustice is done to
established interests.

Italy's Evolution as Reflected in Her Press

Italy has reached her present position through the development
of a policy the steps of which have been brightly illuminated
by the press of the Peninsula. The most important of these
steps may be designated as follows:

First, the declaration of the Government to the German
Ambassador at Rome on Aug. 1, 1914, that it did not regard the
conflict begun by Austria-Hungary and Germany as a defensive
war and hence not binding on it as a member of the Triple
Alliance, and its subsequent declarations of "neutrality," of
"armed neutrality," and of "a neutrality which is likely to be
broken if the interests of the country demanded it."

Second, Premier Salandra's speech of Dec. 3 for "armed, alert
neutrality," and the declaration in Parliament on Dec. 5 by
Signor Giolitti showing that the declaration of Aug. 1 was
merely a repetition of one conveyed to Austria in the Summer
of 1913, when Austria had suggested that she aid Bulgaria in
subduing Serbia.

Third, the arrival in Rome in December of the former German
Imperial Chancellor, Prince von Buelow, as Extraordinary
Ambassador to the Quirinal, for the purpose of keeping Italy