London, May 17.
The Italian problem—whether or not Italy will enter the war—is of secondary importance today in comparison with the final outcome of the titanic struggle along the northern border of France, British political quarters asserted tonight. Even though the situation in Italy as late as yesterday evening was not eased, "hesitation" was remarked in high Italian quarters, and normally, the British observers stated, this' "hesitation" should be accentuated, with the result that Italy would remain a non-belligerent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.