Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-31

BY CLARENCE l. SPEED
written for and Approved by the War
Committee of the Union League club Ok
Chicago
Conflicting claims of Italy and the
new Jugo-Slay state, which is to
emerge from the world war either as
a greater Serbia under the Karegorge-
Witch dynasty or, perhaps, rs a JuEo-
Slav republic, offer some Of the most
intricate problems which have to be
settled at the peace table.
Even If the settlement could be
made solely along FACIAL and lingu-
iStc lines it would not be simple. The
boundaries of the Iugo-Siay territory
along the eastern shore of the Adriatic
as well as further back IN both Aus
tria and Hungary, are far from being
plainly fixed If self determination Of
peoples could be made the sole guide
the settlement still would present DIFF
ilcultles, although with the exceptions
of comparatively few districts. there
is no doubt that all the Serbs, Greats
and Slovenes are ready TO unite under
one government guaranteeing freedom
Of religion and local customs.
Other Questions Involved.
But there are other questions In
voved having to do with ltalys his
torcal aspirations, the pledged word
Of other great nations among the en-
tente allies, and economic and mill
tary plans for the future, all of which
tend TO complicate the situation still
further and to call for much forbear-
ance on all sides II the final peace
treaty Is to he one which will remove
the causes Of International friction in
this quarter of the globe.
Reference to the map above will help
greatly to understand the problems
which must be settled around the
peace table.
1t will be seen that, under the arm
lstice terms, Italy now has control Of
the greater part Of the eastern coast
Of the Adratlc fiom the old Italian
frontier down almost to what before
the war was the coast Of Montenegro
Italy desires for several reasons to
keep this territory, though its popua.
ton Is overwhelmingly Slavic.
taIys Historic Claim.
First there IS the historic claim. For
centuries Dalmatia belonged to the re-
public of Venice, and Venice itself is
now n part of reunited Italy,
On the other hand Venice never col
onizcd this territory to any great eX-
tent.
Italy bases her claim to the eastern
shore Of the Adriatlc also on the fact
/ that It contains all the good hNrbors
/ on that sea.
Menace Dlsproved by War.
The Italian claim is that any power
/ which holds this coast can dominate
the Adrlatc sen, closing II to Italian
shipping and putting the whole italian
const in jeopardy This claim, ii
would seem, has been disproved by
Italy herself during the recent war.
Austria was power far greater than
thc new lugo-Slay state IS likely to
be. II had modern ships Of war and
was re-enforced by many German sub
marines. Yet Italy dominated the
Adriatic completely because she had
the stronger navy Her ships were
able to keep the Austrian hattleShlpS
hiding behind their rocky islands and
even TO curb the German submarines
SO that, as the war continued, they
became less ind less Of a menace.
Jugo-Slavla by tradition. is not a
naval power. Guaranteed It's lndepend-
cnce by league of great nations and
assured Of lt0ly'S good will. there is
no reason to believe that It ever would
find 1t expedlpnt to assume the finan.
cal burden which the building of II
navy of sufficient size to challenge ltal.
Ian supremacy in the Adriatlc would
, entail
Promised Property Of Others.
The third claim of Italy TO the great.
cr part of the east coast of the Adri.
attic Is based on the fnct that It was
promised TO her by England. France
and Russia ms an incentive for enter.
Ing the war.
Gleut pressure was brought to bear