Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

lutte as the symbol Of a fecund collabo-
ration in the present and the future.
General, act in such q way that tho
red shirt. symbol of liberation. may be
Joined to the red berets Of our lougo-
Slav littoral. for the defense OF the prin-
ciple, Z" To every one his we'll being to
all liberty. peace and love for one an
other"
In this telegram of the rougo-Slav
committee is found the key Of the sit
uation which the future viii solve by
the constitution of a Italo-Slav dual
monarchy.
Italy's apparent hesitations Of few
months past 1t Is alleged. were based
the very best conditions for Italy and
for the prospective Iougo-Slav. Peo-
pies whose aspirations for liberty were
the same, whilst their traditions have
prepared them already for marriage
of interest as we'll as affection.
At the moment when tergiversations
were strongest the greatest of Italys
historians. Signor Gugliemo Ferrero.
wrote in the Secolo of Milan:
ITO suppose the most favorable cir
cumstances. and that after this terrible
war, which has turned things upside
down, sincere and loyal arrangements
may be concluded. we will come to a
treaty. and by paying a very high price
obtain some territories Inhabited by
Italians: but we should be obliged TO
renounce for always that which In the
Of the most serene republic.
"AIl the regions where the Italians
and Slavs live side by side and to
which Venice has given an imprint
either will remain Austrian or will be-
come Slav. Even II italy should sue
| coed by treaty to obtain part OF them
Italy would not have sufhcient author
ity over the Slavs.
"Petween Serbia, who has fought
with so much valor under the shadow
of great Russia and Italy. who will
have shown herself excessively adroit
pies will be drawn to Serbia as iron
is attracted by the magnet
At first Illyrian. Dalmatfa became
Byzantine; its history and its evolution
penetrated the oriental spirit: the Slav
tribes appeared in these countries from
the commencement of the sixth CEN
fury.
In the seventh century the Croats
and the Serbs penetrated to Dalmatia
and esta blished the seat Of the grand
joupan in Belgrade. then called 7ara-
vecchia, and adopted Christianity.
There is no exaggeratton to say that
the Slav peoples at that time, and even
at an earlier period. had invaded the
countries north of the Adriatic extend
ing bevond Venice. which was founded
by Slavs (Vendi or NenetD.
During centuries Serbs and Croats
were absolute masters not only Of the
Dalmatian shores and its interior. but
Of the cities on the adrtatic Several
of the latter still preserve their mu-
nicipal writings in Slavon.
During an entire century 1887 to $3.50
Venice paid tribute to the Croat
princes and kings for the
Venice's free navigation of the
-, Adriatic described in the
n
Dalmatico mare lin our Dalmatian seal.
The slavs of Dalmatia have always
considered the Venetian domination as
foreign, to such a point that those
cities which could free themselves pre-
terred the Ottoman domination. 1t was
thus that Ragusa. which maintained
its independence during more than ten
centuries, remained the refuge of the
spirit and traditions Of the Iougo-
SIav.
What is said Of Dalmatia may be
said of Istria and Trieste. These coun-
tries have been controlled during
certain time by the Republic OF Venice.
but that domination. 1t must De Be- con on.
destiny Of Trieste attached her to
Austria.
We may add that Venice and Trieste
;; were always in rivalry. and were far
nomical union. 1t may be said that the
domination of Venice over Istria and
Dalmatia showed itself particularly Sc
we're; these two countries have not been
treated as the other possessions OF the
Serenissime in Italy, but as colonies
entirely foreign to the sovereign state.
The Slav peasant was exploited consci-
entiously, exploited by Venice accord
ing to a regime which may recall that
of Spanish colonization; no favors. no
economical Indulgence. One must not
be astonished that the Slav populations
of Dalmatia, of Istria and the country
; of Trieste should have paid that domi-
nation with the money of revolt. Venice
never considered these Adriatic prov
inces as essentially Italian: the proof
of this will be found in the designa-
! ton of the inhabitants as Schiavoni.
The Iougo-Slav populations, because
they considered the Venetian domina-
ton as foreign, notwithstanding its
duration, accepted with joy the arrival
of the Napoleonfc armies. Later they
submitted with docility to the Austrian
domination. with this distinction, how
ever, in their docility, they demanded
, that they should be united as Serbo-
CroatS.
When during recent years Italians
accused the Austro- Hungarian govern
ment of favoring the
NapOleOnS southern Slav to the
Perception. ana consscuen,,r . ,sa.
the Serbo-Croat element has easily OBJ
tanned the advantage in these prov
inces, they do not appear to perceive
the consequent reflection upon Italians
and the policy Of Rome. Italy should have
kept constantly in mind the act of Ma
poleon. who recognized the common ethnic
condit ons of these populations. Ma poleon.
it Is recalled, reunited Serbs, Croats
and Slovenes under the name of
Provinces nlyriennes.
Slovenia has an area of 1880 square
miles, as large as Belgium, and extends
north to the Brave and the Muir, south
east as far the Croat frontier and
west to the Adriaffc hatWean Cana