Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-11
Fear Felt That Outbreaks
May Come Before Peace
Conference Decides.
ITALY WILL MAKE REPLY
To CHARGES MADE TO U. S.
Kingdom Is Opposed to Concession
of Coast Asked by New
Slavic State.

Friction between Italy and the new
ly organized Jugo-Slav state has
reached such an acute stage within
the last few days that 1t is causing
frank concern among officials here and
diplomatic representatives of the allies.
So long as the differences merely re-
lated to ultimate territorial adjustment
the dispute was limited to propaganda
output and awaited adjustment at the
peace conferences.
But the Jugo-Slavs have submitted
q protest to the State Department
against alleged oppressive measures
of the Italian army of occupation In
the territory along the eastern Adria-
tic coast. and they furthermore charge
that the Italians are pushing their
military control beyond the bounds set
forth in the armistice.
Fear Outbreaks
Feeling runs high. and the fear Is
expressed that outbreaks will occur
before the peace conferences reach
the discussion Of the disposal Of terri
tory along the east Adriatic coast.
the question about which the differ
ences revolve. Presence of small de-
tachments of American troops In
Fiume. Cattaro, Trieste and of Ameri-
can warships in the Adriatic is said
to have a stabilizing effect upon the
thai respect for the American flag
has prevented disturbances SO far.
IAquiries about the facts have been
flashed by wireless to Rome from the
italian embassy here. and it is likely
that the Italian government will
mako counter representations within
a few days. In the absence Of the
Italian ambassador officials of the
embassy do not feel free to comment
tions from their hofne government.
- Charges In Form Of Protest.
The specific charges against the
Italian troops made to the State De-
partment here and the allied govern
ments- are in the form of a protest
from the Jugo-Slav national council at
Zagreb. Particular complaint is
made about conduct OF the Italians
in Dalmatia, Istria and Gorilla The
message declares that the Italian adj
ministration Is contrary, not only to
terms of the armistice. but ito
human. conceptions as regards tho
treatment of a people distinctly pro-
ally and struggling through the whole
war for the allied cause"
~at {y,r ~ IAsn N1, pAe
that two food ships dispatched from
Cattaro to Seng for the starving
Jugo-Slav population" were seized by
the Italians and diverted to Italy;
that in Dalmatia food is distributed
only to those who will sign a declara-
tion that they favor annexation Of
Dalmatia to Italy; that a similar pro-
cedure is being followed in Italy, and
that Jugo-Slav authorities are being
replaced by Italian officials.
Make Other Charges.
Local representatives Of the Tag
forcibly removed. 1t is alleged that
in Gorizia. Italian soldirs tore down
Serbian, Croatian and Slovene flags
displayed beside those Of the allies.
The italian troops are charged with
seizing food for their own use in
Gorizta and with various other op-
pressive measures.
About most of the territory of con-
siderable extent now within the linn
Its Of the Jugo-Slav provisional gov
ernment there is no contention. This
territory includes Croatia, Dalmatia.
1stria, Carniola, Bosnia. Herzegovina
part Of Styria and Carinthia. In ad-
dition there are Serbia and Montene-
gro. union Of which with the Jugo-
Slav state has been proclaimed and
accepted by those governments.
The territory in dispute lies along
the eastern Adriatic, extending from
Trieste southwark to Cattaro. This
strip includes Istria and Dalmatia,
1stria being the so-called eastern Pc
ninsula. in regard to which Italy holds
her claim to be indisputable under
the terms OF the London convention,
signed. before Italy entered the war.
Hold Agreement Abrogated.
The Jugo-Slav leaders hold that the
London agreement. signed by repre-
Fentatives of England. France, Rus
sia and Italy, has been abrogated by
son and allied leaders in respect to
Xhey assert that Austrian and italian
figures show that in Dalmatia, Istria,
the Trieste and Gorizia regions the
total Slavic population is 1.052, 900, as
compared with $4,000 Italians.
Italians admit this Slavic prepon-
Gerance, but hold that it has no more
hearing upon the disposal of that ter
ritory than has the German majority
IN Aisace, because, 1t Is held. Dalmatia
and Istria have been colonized in
much the same way as has Alsace and
Lorraine.
Future Protection at Stake.
Furthermore, the Italians assert
that the future protection Of Italy de-
raands. at least. a partial control Of
the eastern Adriatic coast. especially
the northern region, ,swhsre Italian soil
is we'll within range Of long-distance
guns. were they to operate from the
opposite shore. Protection of Italy
without this strip OF land on the east
ern Adriatic, Italians assert, would
entail construction Of a navy to an
extent which would be oppressive to
Italy and the development of her
peaceful industries.
Italy u understood to be prepared
to go before the peace conferences
conceding portions Of the seacoast be-
tween the peninsula and Cattaro. but
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