New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
ITALY AND SERBIA
The Former Hitherto Too Weak Too Selfish to Play the Part
She Ought to Have Played the Bakan1er Shoghed Policy
Condemned by Eminent Serbian Diplomatit

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t would appear, from the indifference
the press has shown thus far toward His Ex-
cellency Cheddo Miyatoyich, formerly ser
bias Minister to the Court of 81. James, ana
for the last several weeks in this country
upon an errand of mercy in behalf OF ms
stricken compatriots, that this very distin-
gushed dipomatist popularly counts among
the minor celebrities" whose opinion on the
alurements of the Great White Way might
make entertaining reading while his com
,ments on matters of world Importance, OF
which he is bound to know vastly more than
the average American newspaper reader are
of but scant Importance
Am mistaken to believe that the readers
Of The Tribune would be interested to know
Mr.. Miyatovich's thoughts on the role Italy
has played in the Balkan campaign and on
the future control of the Adriatic?
From notes in my possession, written in
the diplomatst'5 own hand, ask your per-
mission to quote:
There are no written conventions between
Serbia and Montenegro on one side and Italy
on the other, but the identity of our interests
palpabe and so evident that we expected a
more energetic and more efficacious policy on
the part of Italy for the defence OF Montene-
gro and Albania. OF course, Italy is the best
and the only competent judge OF what Italian
interests are and of what she could do at
certain given moment for the defence OF those
interests But will not conceal that
we arc somewhat disappointed that Italy has
not sent much earlier and much larger force
to support the Serbians fighting in Montene-
gro and Albania.
I'VE Serbans consider the principle the
Balkan countries for the Balkan nations a.
the fundamental principle of the Balkan pol
icy But at the same time We fully admit
that Italy, more than any other country, has
important and, indeed. vital interests in the
western half of the Balkan Peninsula. ..
Fortunately, the interests of the Serbians
and Of all the Noogo-Slavs are absolutely
Identical for long stretch with those of
Italy Neither of us can permit the Germans
or their vassals, Austria and Bulgaria, 20 take
firm footing on the Adriatic coast
at is impossible for Italy, Serbia and their
allies to let the Germans in form or an
other become the masters of the Albanian
coast. The possession of Trieste would be foi
Italy absolutely useless If the Germans, Aus
trians or Bugars became the masters Of
Avlona The Italian and Serbian armies must
now fight TO save Albania from German domi-
nation-not for the sake of Albania, but for
the sake of Italy and Serbia"
In conversation Mr.. Miyatovich expressed
himself much more strongly about Italy's at
titude since she entered the war, and more
especially since the Teutonc drive began to
sweep the Serbians from their land. He is
clearly OF opinion that Italy is playing her
own game, regardless of the general scheme
oil the Allies; that either she was short sight
cd or knew her military organization to be
100 weak 20 be effective in its assistance 10
the Balkan fighting forces when she failed TO
send her troops stationed at Avlona and more
to the rescue of Serbia at the time when
the Austrians crossed the Danube and took
Belgrade; that petty jealousy may have
counted as a factor of some importance,
prompting her TO leave Serbia TO her fate
rather than aid in the establishment of a
Slav kingdom on the Adriatic-counting upon
Serbas mountain defences 20 halt the in
vaders before they could reach the coast:
and that, whatever her reasons were Italy
will be made to pay dearly in the future for
her failure TO do for herself and her allie,
what she was expected TO do in the Balkans.
What form the price eXacted is to take de-
pends obviously on the final outcome OF the
war. OF one thing Mr.. Miyatovich is certain:
Whatever France and Great Britain promised
Italy on condition that she join the Entente
powers in the war she will receive, whether
she does her share fully and Loyalty or not,
! for. he says. "a scrap Of paper is not thing