Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-25
THE LONDON TREATY

The treaty, or pact, into which Great Britain, France
and Italy entered near the beginning Of the war was
framed to meet a peculiar state of circumstances. italy
had been for some years a member Of the Triple Alliance
composed of that country, Germany, and Austria. Italy's
membership in that combination was an unwilling one
With Germany her relations were few, and there was lit:
tie to bring the two countries together, but between Italy
and Austria there was a feud Of long standing, and a sit
uation similar in some respects to that created by the
seizure of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany from France. In
the union of the Italian provinces was consumated terri.
tory to the north reaching up into the Alps. and other
territory eastward from the head Of the Adriatic were
forcibly retained by Austria. That territory historically
and geographically was 1talys. but the new Italian king.
dom was obliged to make the best of the bargain and con.
tent itself as best it could with what it was permitted to
hold. There was left a sore which ranked, and which was
recognized as being the potential causes Of war. Not only
had Austria withheld this particular territory from italy,
but the latter country lived under the constant menace
Of an attack from the empire on the east, the loss OF
other valuable possessions, and perhaps the entire de-
struction of Italys independence. 1t was to ward off this
danger that italy entered the Triple Alliance, and not be-
cause Of any community of feeling with Austria.
When Germany began her world war, aided. and
abetted by Austria it remained for Italy to decide wheth-
er or not sheuwould participate as a member of the Triple
Alliance. Her decision was not to do so, a decision which
gave great onense to Germany and Austria, but which
Italy defended on the ground that her compact with
those countries did not require her to engage with them
m an aggressive war such as she Interpreted the war of
1914 to be. For a time Italy remained neutral, but it be-
came evident before long that neutrality was a position
which she could not maintain. After long conferences she
decided to cast in her lot with the Allies, and in arrang-
ing with them for this step she took measures for her
own protection. both in the restoration Of territory which
logically belonged to her, and in the acquisition of furth-
er TERRITORY which. she held to y a poceeeor ~ ~ 40 oHoo+iy.
barrier against expected attempts of Austrian aggression
in the future. This was the basis of the pact CT London.
France and Great Britain recognized that the Trentino
and Italia 1rredenta were the lawful possessions of Italy.
They recognized further Italys need for protection
against Austrian attack, and on the basis of things as
they stood at that time the conditions of the pact of Lon
don were reasonable and necessary.
The northern provinces are to be restored to italy
without dispute. Italy comes into the possession Of all
that is logically hers. The need for the extension of her
sovereignty over the southern Dalmatin coast has disap-
peared with the disappearance of the Austrian empire
from the face of the earth. Her insistence therefore. on
this portion of the treaty becomes merely a grab for ter
ritory rather than a reasonable act of self defense. Great
Britain and France are signatories to the treaty. They
are placed in a position of some delicacy. For them to
repudiate the portion of the treaty referring to the Dali
matin coast might be interpreted as a violation Of con-
dttions which they were in honor bond to fulfr, even
tnousn the need Tor fuldllment may be past. Italy seems
to be missing a great opportunity. The real value to her
of the possession of the territory which is now in dispute
is questionable. but by waving her claim to it Italy has
the opportunity Of standing forth before the world as
willing to sacrifice material interest in order that the
rights OF smaller nations may be enjoyed. and that the
peace Of the world may be maintained.
So far as the United States is concerned, It seems
that no attitude can be taken other than that set forth
BY Presiden Wilson. This nation was not a party to the
London compact. and is not bound by its provisions. It is
not entanEied in the subject in any way: it has no inter-
esD OF IL own to serve. and no advantage to gain. on the
other hand It is committed as are the other nations ia
full recosnition Of the national independence Of Juxo-
aav whose national home - just beyond the Adriatic.
Recognition Of the Jugo-slav involves recognition Of the
need for the creation Of conditions which viii. make in
dependent national existence possible. The J~uxo-slavs
need. g do thsir :%neighbors. access to the sea; and they
can Eetsthis in no other feasible way than by having free
eentrol Of : road to the Adriatic. without the recognition
Ief this nssd. recognition Of national existence would be
q empty form, sasd the arguments made " President
Wilson asa'nss ths csssion Of the disputed ~territory to
Ttaiy aSs unanswsrabl1