Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-05
The Readers Viewpoint
Trieste in the German Plot


TO the Editor Of the Everitg Public Ledger:
Sir-A special cable to the EVENING PUB
Lie LEDGER. dated May 80, gives US parts Of
the latest speech of the Austrian Emperor
delivered to several deputations from the
western provinces of his empire. These in
formed him that Austria is inextricably
bound up with the Trieste trade. which is
In German hands The emperor asserted
that "his Government will always be OH the
side Of those who wish to keep intact the
sacred heritage of the glorious past and pre-
serve 1t intact for future generations" He
further on asserted that never In any man
ner whatever VIII the rights and develop
ments of the German inhabitants OF Austria
be checked"
He could have omitted this last confession: !:
we knew very well that Austria is a vassal
Of Germany and that the nations subjected
to her can expect no consideration. But the
assertion that the trade OF Trieste is in Ger
man hands proves to be absolutely without
foundation. 1t finds its root in that vast
network Of lies and Misrepresentation which
is generally known as German propa ganda.
We have often heard that though Trieste
Is certainly Italian In her population geog
raphy and history, yet We ought not to take
her from Austria. since she constitutes her
most important harbor On the other hand
we are informed that, should Trieste return
to her mother country, her Importance would
greatly diminish. since her trade would be
absorbed by Venice.
Both statements are clearly refuted by
facts. What little Austria has done in favor
Of Trieste she has done with the purpose OF
stimulating an antagonisn with Venice; DIS,
crninatory freight rates have been used to-
this end. This supposed rivalry In trade was
to be used as an important argument for
keeping under control one of the most inn
portant seaports of Italy. There are no in
herent reasons for this supposed rivalry
Venice. through her geographical position,
should dominate the trade not only on her
side of the Alps, but also In part of the In.
Of influence OF the German ports Of the
North Sea. Trieste. on the other hand, be-
sides her hinterland. very rich and capable
OF great development, dominates the trade
80 per cent Of her total On the day on
which European and Asiatic Turkey shall be
freed from the incompetent rule Of her pres
ent government there will be no limit to the
amount Of trade which the Levant will offer
Coming now to the pretended German In.
terests In Trieste. we find that these are nop-
existent. The total trade Of Trieste amounts
to about b,5oo,oo0 tons; Of this whole $780,
900 represent the maritime trade Now the
participation Of Germany in the maritime
trade constituted In 1911 but rs per cent Of
the total trade, while Italy is represented by
l3 per cent, l. e., by an even greater total
than that OF the Austro- Hungarian ports,
which are. after all, mainly Italian.
The fact 10 that Austria. while always
submissive to the unjust rivalry OF the Ger
man ports against. Trieste, has only been
intransged In encouraging an antaEonism
between Venice and Trieste.
This city under Austria, l. e., under Ger
many would continue TO be starved in favor
of the German ports She would never be
forgiven for remaining. In spite Of all perse-
cution typical Italian city. The reasons for
Germanys longing for her possession are
essentially political This important city
could serve as gateway into the Medter-
rean and as a brdsehead for the political
conquest Of the Levant and the Far East.
Hamburg Trieste -Const ant.nople is only q
part Of the Berlin to Bagdad program Of
domination.
But the dream entertained by the Austrian
emperor of keeping intact the sacred heri-
tage" Of murder. tyranny and oppression Is
already doomed to rude awakening. Only
last week Secretary Lansing declared Ameri-
cas- friendliness toward the oppressed races
of Austria. In the name OF the most sacred
principles OF liberty and nationality we are
bound to wipe OF the earth the horrible etain
which goes under the name OF the AustrssA
empire. Y. c.
4htiaAsl2sis. Juae s. IS q &