New-York tribune., 1918-12-26

are no more separate Serbian and
separate Jugo-Slav claims.
The first thing the delegation will
ask will be the full political and terri
torial recognition Of the new state.
The territorial claims, based upon the
principle Of justice and national self
determination, include in the new state
all those territories where Jugo-Slavs
live in compact masses and where they
have formed since time immemoral an
undisputed territorial continuity. These
territories are Serbia and Montenegro,
Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia and Slav
onia, Dalmatia, Carniola, Istria and
Trieste, Gorilla, parts of Southern
Styria, parts of Carinthia, Bacska,
parts of the Banat ard Megjumurje.
Dispute With Italy
Except in the Adriatic coast lands
there is no dispute about the righteous
ness Of the Jugo- Slav. claims. Trieste
and the western part of Istria have a
majority of Italians, but Trieste is a
component and indivisible part of the
whole Jugo-Slav hinte%and whereas
the proportion of the population in the
Slavs as against 1855 Italians. But
Italy claims besides Istria and Trieste
the whole of Gorilla and the greater
part of Dalmatia, where the Italian
population is negligible, being 108, ,147,
as against 767,708 JugoSlavs.
Between Italian imperialistic and
Jugo-Slav national claims there cannot
be any compromise whatever. Only
force can impose upon the Jugo-Slavs
acceptance, for the moment. of a de-
cision contrary to their rights. Any
Hch
result in farreaching future trouble.
The Jugo-Slav peace delegation will
have to make this point clear to the
peace conference and to induce the Al
lies and America to arrange settle
ment such as will assure not only peace
in the Adriatic, but the very necessary
good relations between Italy and the
JugO-Slavs."
Serbs in New Union
The Serbian statement follows:
"By the constitution of the new
ministry at Belgrade, the union of the
Serbs, Croats and Slovenes into q
single kingdom is finally officially con-
stituted. Three weeks ago delega-
ton of the Austrian Southern Slavs
went to Be e'grade to officially effect the
union of the former Austro- Hungarian
Jugo-Slavs with Serbia.
"The nomination of NJ. Koroshetz,
leader of The Jugo-Slav group in the
Austrian Parliament, as vice-presde
of the Council of Ministers, and of DR..
Ante Trumbich, hitherto President of
the Jugo- Slav National Committee in
London. as member of the new govern
ment in the capacity of Foreign Min
lister, marks the official entry to pow
er of the Austro- Hungarian Slavs. Yes
terday the Serbian Legation in Wash
ington changed it's title and will hence
forth be krown as the legation of the
Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slo-
venes.
Italian Pretensions Resented
"The only dark spots on the horizon
of the new kingdom are the preten-
sions Of Italy to occupy certain sec
tion of the Istrian and Dalmatian coast
The fact that Italian troops were al
lowed to occupy Pola, Fiume, Ragusa,
cara and Cattaro, all points claimed by
the Southern Slavs, when this might
have been intrusted to British or
French troops, has created a consid-
cradle amount of bitterness in the new
Southern Slav kingdom. That the
seriousness of the situation is, how
ever, understood by the Allies is proved
by the prolonged conference which
President Wilson has had on the sub
ject with the King of Italy and Italian
and other Allied statesmen"