The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-04-09
So Say Reports in Telling Of Agree.
ment Which Has Been Made by
Austrian Emperor--H Hinder Allies
FACT WELL sUBsTANT1ATED
Sudden Stoppage of News Covering
Bargain-Value Of Peace is
Strongly Shown.
BY j. w. T. MASON

-~'>" va az ~ApA 4kCVOA 10
Paris that the Austrian Emperor has
agreed to the transfer of Trentino to
Italy are probably correct. Paris nat
urally would be inclined to 'disbelieve
all such rumors unless the basic fact
were we'll substantiated. The disad-
vantage to the Allies, cause, which
would follow the purchase of Austria
of 1taly's neutrality is sufficiently
obvious to suggest that Paris would
suppress all versions of negotiations
unfavOrable to the Allies as long as
any good purpose could thus ne
served.
The fact that the French censor
has allowed a report of the Trentino's
transfer after the war to be tele-
graphed abroad and the added cir
cumstance that Partisan sources of
international news vouch for the
truth of the statement suggest the
rumors may be correct.
Stoppage of News.
During the past week, too, a sud-
den stoppage seems to have been put
on news of the Trentino bargaining
hitherto garrulously telegraphed
broadcast from Rome. This in it.
self might be bad sign if negotia-
lions had reached critical impass,
or good sign if negotiations were
reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
Paris inclines to the later view, and
is probably justified in doing so.
If Italy has sold her neutrality for
the Trentino, an admirable bargain
has been struck. BY going to war
against Austria and Germany, Italy
might have succeeded in obtaining
Istria will all of Austria's principal
seabord ports; but it is questionable
whether the peace conference would
have ratified the Istrian seizure and
even if it had, Italy would be con-
tinually threatened thereafter by an
Austrian war Of revenge. Il. :'.. .s:'.'5-- a
+ = Austria Fares Well.
While Austrian prestige suffers
through the cession of the mountain
GUS and interior Trentino, no perma-
nent and irreparable injury is done
to the dual monarchy such as would
follow the loss of her Northern Adri-
attic seaboard. Hence, by clinching
her future control of Istria, Austria
has come we'll out of the bargaining.
BY making terms with Austria and
Germany now, Italy may lose an op-
portunity to extend her influence in
Asia Minor. If the Italians were to
enter the war with the Allies, the Ro-
man Government might be able to
obtain not only the Trentino by force
of arms, but also a definitely recog-
niZed sphere of influence in Smyrna
Province, where Italy's Asia Minor
interests center.
Cost to Be Heavy.
But the frightful tolls which are
being exacted by the present war
would probably make the cost to Italy
more than Smyrna sphere of intlu-
ence is worth.
The value of peace was never more
apparent to neutral countries than it
is now, and if Italy in reality has OBJ.
tanned the Trentino, while continuing
to enjoy the advantages of peace, Ro-
man craftsmanship will have gained
one of the most notable diplomatic
victories. of the centuary. The
prestige thus won by her statecraft
| will elevate Italy to a higher place
in European councils than the PENN.
sula kingdom has ever possessed in
| the mast.