New-York tribune., 1919-06-03
Urge Italian Rule
At Constanknople
Settlement Of Fiun,e Dis
pute by Granting Of
Right in Far East Is
Suggested
Mem York Tribune
.SpecinJ Cdblc .Serrica


Copyright 1914 New York Tribune Inc)
PARIS, June 2. After hunting ali
over the map for a key to the compli-
Gated Italian problem it is just pos
sible though decisions change so
rapidly that it is absurd to speak with
certainty-that it has now been found
in Constantinople. Since the United
States perhaps will decline a mandate
to administer TIL city, and since
Great Britain, France and Japan are
ruled out for reasons sufficiently
obvious, the suggestion is now made
that Italy undertake the job of police
man, with d form of control under tho
league of nations. the Sultan being
permitted to retain Constantnoplc as
the capital of much reduced Turkey.
Such an arrangement would i'm
mensely increase the probability of
Italian acceptance of the FiumeDal-
malta compromise, wherein Italy re
nounces many claims. and would also
reconcile her 20 the Greek pretensions
on the coast and in the immediate
hinterland of Asia Minor.
Italian officials to-day assured The
Tribune correspondent that Premier
Orlando probably would accept The
Adriatic compromise, with the addi
ton OF Nalona and a n1anda for
Albania, for it is generally adm ted
that Italy ia thus left mistress Of the
Adriatc from q naval viewnoitlo s-nl
becomes predominant on the west flank
of the Balkans.
Herein. perhaps is seen the end cf
! IL,
been playing lately, in which her
Adriatic, Aegean, Asia Minor and
African claims were used as pawns II
the. approved manner of the older
diplomacy. She wanted, first, -he
Trentino and the upper Adige; second
ly. the Isonzo Valley, Gorizz a,
Trieste and Istria; thirdly. Fiume and
Dalmatia; fourthly, zone Of in
f1uence in the Aegean and Asia Minor,
and, filthy, protectorato over Albania
and occupation of the Nalona region.
Much of this territory was ass gned
to Italy by the pact Of London, hut
that treaty was based on the idea of
the continued existence of the Austro-
hungarian Empire. which has row
crumblcd, throwing up from its dus,
new states whose claims arc opposed
to Italy's. Thus Italy, both in her ae-
mands in accordance with the pact of
London and in others additional the e.
to, found herself inpinging on the de
sres of old and new nations. Out of
this condition has arisen situation
more complicated than any existing be-
fore the peace conference, touching
subjects so wide apart as arms run
ming into Abyssina and the religious
susceptiblities of the Mussulman sub
jects of Great Britain and France
Even since her unifcation Italy has
aspirod to become the chief Medi.er-
ranean power, but England and Fra nee
often lay across her path, while the
growth of Austria in the same direc-
tion finally forced Italy to follow the
diplomatic precept, "Unite with the
power you cant master" and she
Joined the Triple Alliance. Her entry
/ into the war on the side of the Allies
was great gamble for Medterra-
mean power and the pact of London,
read in tho light of this fact, shows
that Great Britain and France were so
desperate at this time that they were
ready to pay the price
Victory had brought Italy within
sight of her aspirations. when Prosi-
dent Wilson intervencd with his famous
declaration. History since then shows
Italy continually shutting and re-
dealing her claims like pack of cards
seeking a combination which viii leave
her formidable Mediterranean power
Propositions followed counter propo-
sitions wherein Italy strovc to play ma
tion against nation and claim against
claim, but to-dy. of the Constan'lnople
story is true, she finds herself obliged
to be content with her share Of eco
nomic control of the Adratic and
forced to see Greece ranking among the
chief Mediterranean factors.