The sun., 1918-07-14
TOFIX STATUS
OF AUSTRIANS
Nationality Problem, COnsid-
cred in Rome, to Be
Tackled Again.
ACTION WILL BE FINAL
Difficulties Between Italy and
Serbia Cause of Long
Dispute.
ACTION WILL BE FINAL
Specio, Correspondence to The sux.

Specf0t correspondence 10 Ink GUN
PARIS. June 2s.-The work begun by
the Congress Of Oppressed Natiosalities
of Austria Hungary held in Rome. and
which marked the beginning of new
era in the eastern policies OF the En-
tente, is to be continued at n similar
congress which will meet in Paris.
In effect it is to be an extension OF
the Rome congress and will. II is hoped.
complete the task which that congress
set out to perform. The Paris congress
may be even of greater significance,
since it is likely that the allied Govern
ments will choose it as the fitting place
for defining finally and for all time their
attitude on the matter of the Austrian
nationality problem, recognized as the
evil root at the bottom OF the whole
European problem and without whose
solution 1t Is agreed there can be no
real peace in Europe.
The declarations OF the French. Brit
ish and Italian Ministers at Versailles
last week, while crystallizing to large
extent the attitude Of their Governments
toward this problem. is generally be-
lieved to be incomplete and therefore
not to be taken as the Anal word OF the
Allies. French public opinion subscribed
to the British viewpoint, which was best
expressed by a British newspaper when
il said that these declarations should
be interpreted not as the greatest com
mon measure but as the least common
denom!ator Of allied desires and aims.
First Meeting In Rome.
1t was necessary that the first meet
ing take place in Rome, since it was
Italy that had hitherto presented the
chief obstacle to forward and united
policy For the great Powers of the
Entente the essential question for the
moment was to frame an agreement be-
tween the hostile attitude of the south
ern Slavs toward Italy on one hand and
the alleged imperialistic designs Of Italy
on the other.
What was needed was a common I'M
Outstanding for action against the COM
mon enemy. 1t was a notorious fact
that in the past. not so long ago. there
had been some difficulty and even very
unpleasant friction between the former
italian policy as represented by Baron
Sonn!no and the Franco British Russian
Italian treaty of March. 1915. and the
small natonalities interested in the
future OF the region belonging to the
Adriatic basin.
The secret and reactiorary convention
concluded in 1915 as the basis for Italy's
entrance into the war aggravated the
already existing antagonism of the
Slavs toward their neighbors across the
sea. Baron Sonnino's policy was one
OF domination over the Adriat!c. He
dreamed of transforming the Adriatic
into an Italian lake. Had this conven-
ton o, 1915 been realized in full Italy
would unquestionably been dominator OF
the Adriatc. being the master OF Trieste
in the north, Cattoro in the centre and
Valona at the entrance. facing Taront.
What remained under Hapsburg rule,
together with the new Serbia. would
have had 10 be satisfied with very small
pieces OF the coast. Even an extensive
portion OF the Albanian coast was to be
placed under italian protection.