The Washington times., 1919-04-30
Presidents Memorandum
To Orlando On Fiume

corded her in the so-called pact
Of London, but l am OF the clear
opinion that the pact of London
can no longer apply to the settle
ment of her eastern boundaries.
The line drawn in the pact OF
London conceived for the purpose
of establishing an absolutely ade-
quate frontier of safety for Italy
against any possible hostility or
aggression on the part OF Austria
But Austria-Hungary no longer
exists. These eastern frontiers
will touch countries stripped OF
the military and naval power of
Austria settled in interdependence
of Austria and organized for the
purpose Of satisfying legitimate
national aspirations and created
states not hostile to the new Eu-
ropean order but arising out OF
it, interested in its maintenance,
dependent upon the cultivation OF
friendships and bound to COM
mon policy of peace and accom-
mediation by the covenant Of the
League OF Nations.
Trieste and POIa. But Not Fiume.
1t is with these facts in mind
that 1 have approached the Adri-
attic question. 1t is commonly
agreed, and l very heartily adhere
to the agreement, that the ports
OF Trieste and POla, and with
them the greater part of the Is
trian peninsula should be ceded
to Italy, her eastern frontier run
ming along the natural strategic
line established by the physical
conformation Of the country-a
line which it has been attempted
to draw with some degree Of ac-
curacy on the attached map.
Within this line on the Italian
side will lie considerable bodies
of non-Italian populations, but
their fortunes are so naturally
linked by the nature Of the coun-
try itself with the rest of the
Italian people that l think their
inclusion is fully justified.
There would be no justifica-
ton, in my judgment, in includ-
ing Fiume, or any part OF the
coast line to the south OF Fiume,
within the boundaries of the Ital-
ian kingdom. Fiume is by situa-
Of its development not an Italian,
but an international port, serv-
ing the countries TO the east and
north Of the Gulf Of FiUme.
international Port
Just because il is an internd-
tiOnal port and cannot with JUS
tice be subordinated to any one
sovereignty il is my clear judg-
ment that il should enjoy a very
considerable degree of genuine
autonomy and while il should be
included no 6oubt within the GUS
toms system of the new Jugo-
slavic state il should neverthe-
less be left free in its own inter
est and in the interest Of the
states lying about it, TO devote it
SELF to the service Of the com
merce which naturally and in
evitabIy seeks an outlet or inlet
at it's port.
The states which il serves Will
be new states They will have
complete confidence in their ac-
cess to an outlet on the sea. The
friendship and the connections Of
the future will largely depend
upon SuCn an llBtIneul az 1
have suggested, and friendship,
cooperation, ard freedom of ac-
tion must undorlie every arrange
mcut of peace if peace is to be
lasting.
Gives Island of LiSsa.
believe there viii be common
agreement that the Island OF
Lissa should be ccded TO Italy and
that she should retain the port Of
Voluna. believe that it will be
generally agreed that the foTtifi-
cations which the Austrian gov
crnment established upon the
islands near the eastern coast of
the Adriatic should be perma
nently dispensed with under inter
national guarantee and that the
disarmament which Is TO be ar,
ranged under the League of Ma
tions should limit the states on
the eastern coast of the AdriatiC
to only such minor naval forces
as are necessary for policing tho
waters OF the islands and tho
coast These are conclusion: