The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-04

Tense OF lis own lnJereS8- Inc prOtec-
toyate. therefore, is merely temporary
and Italy will leave TO the powers to
settle at the close Of the war what
shall be done as to Albania.
This Italian view is not accepted by
the Serbian and Slav element one finds
here. They !o5k upon the protector
ate as a Duve Of conquest directly op-
posed to the high aims proclaimed by
the Entente ai!ies. DR. Ante Trumbic,
the Distinguished head of the southern
Slav movement, explained the SlaY
viewpoint. DR.. Tumble is a former
member Of the Austrian parliament,
where he represented the Slav.Croats
of Dalmatia. He locks upon this whole
region along the eastern Adriatic as es-
sentially Slav, with Slay population
at all the ports and towns, and with
practically no Italians. Why then, he
asks, should the up.holders of the doc
trino of Nationality seek a foothold
where they have no nationals, no citi.
Eens.
The Slavs resisted the Austrian eff.
fort IL dominate the eastern Adriatic,
and they see no particular difference
in having the Italians dominate 1t in.
stead Of the Austrians. The natural
sea outlet for the YoLgoslav state. EN-.
bracing Serbia, Croatia and all the
southern Slay territory, is toward the
Adriatic, and while this outlet is north
Of Albania yet the SlaVs look upon the
Italian protectorate over Albania as
one move in the general plan for Ital-
ian extension along the whole eastern
Adriatic, making it in effect an Ital.
ian lake.
The Greek side OF this Albanian
question was explained by the Greek
Minister of Public Domain, Mr.. Mich.
aelacopoulos, on the way through Ath.
ems. Albania is essentially Greek ter
ritory, he points out, and is represent
ed in the Greek parliament by twelve
Albanian delegates. Greeks and AL.
banians have long mingled together
in this territory until the two races arr
practically merged. From the stand.
point Of nationality, therefore, the Ital.
ian proteCtorate cannot be justified.
But the Minister feels that all coun
tries having the cause of the Entente
allies at heart should seek to recon.
Gle their differences. Therefore, he
believes compromise or entent could
be made, based on three principles,
namely:
First, no territory to be acquired in
the spirit of territorial extension OF
conquest. Second, Greece would be
disposed to recognize Italy's right of
military self.protection on the Alban.
ian coast, as long as the doctrine Of
nationality is not violated Both these
objects could be secured by an Italian.
Greek commission, which would strict.
ly limit Italy's military zone on the
coast, and not permit it to extend into
the interior. Third, an economic agree.
ment between Greece and Italy would
further assist in mutual accord over A..
bania and the trade OF the two coun.
tries in general"
The Greek minister's suggestion OF
Greek-Italian entente on Albania NAV
yet become the solution Of the prob.
lem, for it seems to satisfy rtaly's chief
aim OF military self-defense, and at the
same time satisfies the Greek aim
not to have Italy make Albania a field
for territorial occupation and aggran-
dizment. The Slavs, too, would prob
ably be satisfied If Italy's aspirations
were held within definite limits in Al.
bania, as the real clash of the Slays
with Italy is north of Albania, in the
long stretch of Adriatic from Trieste
and Istria southwark.
These three views - the Italian