The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-24
Champions Weaker.

I'VE are to establish their liberty as
well as N own They are to be among
the smaller states whose interests are
henoeforth 20 be Eafeguarded as scru-
pulously as the interests Of the most
powerful states.
THE wa was ended, however, by
proposing to Germany an armistice and
peace which should be founded on GER
tain clearly defined principles which set
up n new order Of right and justice.
Upon those principles the peace with
Germany has been conceived, not only,
but formulated; Upon those PRINCIPLES
X will be executed. We Cannot ask tho
great body OF powers to propose and
effect peace with Austria and estab-
lish a new basis of Independence and
right In the states which originally con-
stituted the Austrian empire and In tho
states OF the Balkan group and on prin-
ciplea Of anther kind. We must apply
the same principles - the settlement
of Europe In those quarters that we
have applied in tho peace with Ger
many. 1t was upon tho explicit avowal
Of those principles that the initiative
for peace was taken, Il IL upon them
that the whole structure Of peace must
rest,
"If those principles are to be ad-
hered to, Flume must serve as the out
let OF the commerce, not Of Italy, but
Of the land TO the north and north
east OF that port; Hungary, Bohemia,
Rumania and the states Of the new
Jugo-SlRv group. To assign Fiume TO
Italy would be to create the feeling that
we have deliberately put the port upon
which all these countries chiefly depend
for their access to tho Mediterranean in
tho hands Of a power OF which II did
not form an integral part and whose
sovereignty n set up there, must in
evitably seem foreign, not domestic or
Identified with the commercial and in
dustrial lifer Of the regions which the
port must serve. 1t is for that reason,
no doubt, that Flume was not included
In the pact of London but there def
| nitely assigned to the Croatians.
And the reason why the line OF the
pact Of London swept about many OF
the islands Of the eastern coast OF the
AdriatIc and around the portion OF the
DRlmatian coast which lies most open
TO that sea was not only that here and
there on those islands, and hero and
people Of Italian blood and connection,
but also, and no doubt chiefly, because
It was felt that II was necessary for
Italy to have q foothold amidst the
channels OF the Eastern Adriatic In or
der that she might make her own
coasts safe against the naval aKgres-
sion of Austria Hungary.
But Austria Hungary no longer ex.
lists. 1t Is proposed that the fortitica-
tiuns which the Austrian government
constructed there shall be raEed ant
permanently destroyed.
1T is part also OF the new plan o
European order which centers In IN,
league OF nations that the new state,
erected there shall accept a Limitation
tRnf arRlaments, which puts aggression
out OF the question. There ran be n,
fear OF the unfair treatment Of groups
Of Italian people there because AIDE.
quate guarantees will he given, unde,
international sanction of the equal anC
equitable treatment OF all racial or ma,
tional minorities,
In brief, every question associated
with this settlement wears a new as
pect-a new aspect given II by the YER,
victory for right for which Italy hal
made the supreme sacrifice Of bloc,
aud treasure, Italy, along with tn,
four other great powers, has becom,
one OF the chief trustees of the new
OF der which she has played 40 honor
able n part in establishing.
And on the north and northeast he
Natural frontiers are completely re
stored, along the whole sweep OF tn,
Alps from northwest to southeast, Il
the very end Of the lstrlan peninsula
Including all the great watershed With
IN which Triest and Pola lie. and al
tho fair regions whose face nature ha
turned toward the great peninsula, owe
which the historic life Of the Latil
people has been worked out through
centuries Of famous history ever sine
Rome was first set up on her seyei
hills.
Her ancient dignity Is restored. He
lines are extended to the great wnll
which are her natural defense, It /
within her choice TO he surrounded b
friends; TO exhibit 10 the newly lib
Grated peCples across the AdriatIc tba