Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
Must Remove Friction.

the SlavS and the Italians growing out
of the occupation of Slav lands by the
Italians, then the Germans WILL in the
future, find a ready ally in the south
seek to regain port on the Adriatic,
to retake Trieste, which Is bound to
be the object of later German covet-
business. And If the Greeks are refused
the possession of the Greek regions of
northern Epirus and of the Greek
Islands in the Aegean, Greece will
also lend as ready an ear to future
Teutonic whispers.
Beyond all question, it will fall to
Italy to protect and organize Albania
This carries with it the certain pos
session of Valona, just as the possess
Between the Slavs and the Italians
several agreements have been signed
and a tentative accommodation has
been arranged, but the final settle
ment will come before the peace con-
ference. Between the Greeks and the
Italians there is no settlement put 1
negotiations are in progress. All
Americans must hope that in these ne
gotiations Italy will be guided by a
generous recognition of the very prln-
ciples she has, in her own history, SO
uobly indicated. This hope VIII be
the keener. because nowhere are there
more specifically unpleasant OBJ
stacles to permanent peace than IN
| the Adriatic and the Aegean.
Putting aside the problems OF the
| future. it is for all Americans to con-
graduate Italy, an ally, who has sent
| thousands Of her sons to TINS coun-
try and whose relations with us in
| the future must be far more intimate.
A hundred years of noble aspiration.
gallant sacrifice and incessant enort
are now crowned with complete sue
cess. Italy has achieved national re.
CT 1,~3 A1o
emancipation. For fully generation
she> has been chained - the car Of
the reactionary monarchies of the
Hapsburgs and the Hohenzollerns. her
natural allies, France and Britain. the
| western liberal powers. have been
I separated from her by obstacles OF
German making.
Cause for Rejoicing.
But once more. as in the days OF the
French revolution and OF the great
| liberation of the last century, French
| soldiers have fought beside Italian
| This, time, too, British troops have
shared in the struggle. and British
and French troops, with a small
J American contingent, have marched in
| the last victory, which was, despite
| this relatively inconsiderable aid. a
fara da SCI is motto of the victory
| in 1918. When one thinks of all the
crimes and tragedies, the murders and
executions which fill italian history OF
| the first two generations of the last
century there must be cause for re-
| joicing.
And on the sentimental side, we may
rejoice that the storm which at this
| time last year was rapidly approach
ing Venice did not reach it. st. Mark
has just escaped the rGn of Rheims
Cathedral. Another barbarian inroad
has come and gone and left Venice
still immune amidst her lagoons. In a
world in which SO much that is beau
tiful has vanished this is a cause fol
enduring gratitude. Shall we much
quarrel If the italian seeks to build
to the northward and along the Juliar
Alps such barriers as will halt the
next German assault in the mountain.
and not in the plains? For the Ger.
man will strive to come again. HI
has been at it for well nigh two
thousand years. He always fails il
the end. but he always, returns to tn,
charge.