Sonnino
SIDNEY, BARON, Italian statesman, who, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Italy at the in 1847, and while still a young man served in diplomatic posts in Spain, France, and Austria. He was elected to Parliament at the age of 30, and attained prominence at once through his knowledge of economic and financial methods. He favored reforms in the land policy by which large estates should be broken up. From 1887 to 1890 he was Undersecretary for Finance, and again from 1893 to 1896. He was later Minister of the Treasury, and, while he held this office, put in effect many reform measures. Following the defeat of Crispi, he led the opposition in Parliament for about 10 years. During this period he was Prime Minister in 1906 and in 1910. He became Foreign Minister in November, 1914, and carried on the negotiations with Austria and Germany for the recognition of Italy's claims. He also negotiated the Paris Peace Conference. He was born SONORA Treaty of London, with England, France, and Russia. He took a conspicuous part in the Peace Conference, and made every effort to secure Italy's claims to Fiume and Dalmatia. Unable to secure the assent of the Conference, he left Paris and returned to Italy. Shortly after, the ministry of which he was a member, fell.