The sun., 1919-04-25
DO We Want = League for the
Promotion Of War?

DO We Want League for the
Promotion Of War?
II the yet unmade history Of the
years to come could cast its shadow
before, 1t could scarcely give more
Impressive illustration Of the war
League Of Peace with an arbitrary
arrangement of frontiers drawn on
academic principles than is afforded
by the present situation with regard
to Fiume. as precipitated by President
WILSON'S determination to have his
own way regardless Of the cost to
Europe and the peace of the world.
Let us try to get rid of the entan-
clement Of ideas which proceeds from
the confusion Of two distinct and
therefore separate contracts between
Italy and her allies of the Entente.
There was in the first place the agree
ment or declaration commonly styled
the Pact Of London. This was entered
into by Great Britain, France and
Russia on September 5. 1914, and Italy
adhered to 1t about eight months
later when she entered the war. The
Pact of London, SO called, contained
no agreement about future boundaries
In the event of victory. 1t merely
engaged the several Powers concerned
to make no separate peace with the
enemy. 1t was brief but very def
mite pledge Of unanimous action with
regard to the terms on which peace
was to be concluded when the time
came. There has been an attempt to
represent this solemn and binding
agreement as nullified by the circum-
stance Of Russia's collapse; the vague
argument to that effect Is somewhat
similar to the assertion that when one
of four indorsers Of note of hand
dies or goes bankrupt the other three
indorsers are at once relieved OF
their obligation.
In the second place, there is the
alleged secret treaty, concluded like
the Pact at London, but entirely in
dependent Of the so-called Pact. The
date Of this secret treaty was April
20, 1915. Italy entered the war
against Austria Hungary a little less
than month later, on May %, 1915.
The secret treaty Is not a document
Of record. The only information we
have as to its contents and undertake
ings Is contained in the version given
out by TRoTzKY after the overthrow
Of the Kerensky regime. In this ver-
sion, whether it is accurate or not as
to boundary definitions, "the whole
coast Of Croatia, the port of Fiume
and the small ports Of Nevi and Carlo
pago," with certain islands, are as
signed in the text as published by
TRorzKY to "the territory Of Croatia,
Serbia and Montenegro" along with
certain other mainland and island
points further south.
Now, in the ninth Of President
WILSON'S Fourteen Points his indi-
vldual prescription for the readjust-
ment of the frontiers Of Italy was
that such reimbursement SHOULD be
effected along clearly recognized lines
of nationality" He said nothing that
Is specific about the Flume district,
but 1t appears from contemporary
events that his amazing staff Of car
tographers, ethnologists, population
experts and rebuilders of Europe gen.
orally, under the able command Of
the Presidents personally commits
stoned representative Colonel House,
have decided that in the new Ameri-
can made Europe Fiume, without re-
gard to the character or wishes Of its
people, without regard TO the broad
principle of self-determlnation. shall
not 60 to Italy, but shall be included
in the experimental new republic Of
Iugo-Slavia. Although the text OF
the Trotzky version of the secret
treaty of April 20, 1915, supposing 1t
10 be accurate, would be helpful TO
the American President in the pres
ent crisis, he has not mentioned 1t
himself, and has apparently allowed
II to be used in the controversy only
in the extremity of controversial
emergency. This is natural on Mr..
WILSON'S part, inasmuch rs an APP
peal to the Trotzky version, however
useful to him at the present time,
would chord but imperfectly with his
general attitude on the subject of the
pernicious quality Of secret diplomacy
and the invalldity Of international
compacts inconsistent with the spirit
Of the covenant and constitution OF
his particular League Of Peace. Yet
1t was reported from Paris only two
days ago by our correspondent, Mr.