DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. - Italy.
The Italian Press was very busy with Ireland. Very effective work was being done by a number of people there who were contributing articles to all the leading papers. Mr. Hales was in Genoa and was on the alert lest any anti-Irish articles should go unanswered. England's busiest efforts were being concentrated on Rome where they were being foiled. Asquith went to Rome in 1916 and this year Arthur Balfour went there, but in neither case was the mission a success. The Pope was friendly and prayed for the success of the Irish Cause. It should be remembered that there was an English Colony resident in Rome who acted as propagandists against the Republic.