The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-04-30
SENATOR LODGE
FAvORS ITALY
IN HER DEMANDS
90
He Believes Italy Should Control
Adriatic
900
LODGE SENDS TELEGRAMS
600
Tells italian Organizations of His
Sympathy with Their Demands
for Flume
6Asa,o
LODGE SENDS TELEGRAMS

Washington, April 29.--Demands of
Italy for the port of Fiume denial of
which led to the withdrawal of the
Italian plenipotentiaries from the
peace conference, were upheld to-
night by Senator Lodge, republican
floor leader, in a telegram sent TO
Italian societies of Boston.
Senator Lodge declared that Italy's
demands rested on the ground of her
national safety and protection,
whereas reasons which had been ad-
yanced for tuning the port over to
he Jugoslavs were purely CONNER
cal and economic" He asserted that
nasmuch as Italy had sacrificed half
million of her people and burdened
herself with heavy debts in aiding
France, England and the United Stat
IS to repel the German onset he
,ou.d not see how her request could
properly be refused
The senator said he could not un-
lerstand why arrangements had not
)een made for satisfying Italys de-
ire for military and naval control ov-
er the Adriatic and at the same time
providing the Jugoslavs with port
through which would have access to
he sea.
"In the discussions OF the terms
If peace" said Senator Lodge, Il
nave always declared that the region
Known as Italia Irredenta and all ad-
dining regions where Italian culture
md Italian population are dominant
hould be returned to Italy and that
ta.y should have military and naval
control of the Adriatic not only for
Ter own protection but as an essential
barrier against any future attempt of
Germany to attack the rest of the
world as she did in the recent war.
have also said repeatedly that the
'ugoslays ought TO have access 10 the
ldriatlc which regard as economi-
ally essential TO their independence.
From information given me by an
Italian deputation whom | saw last
Spring in Washington, ! was assured
hat Italy was entirely willing to give
portions OF the Dalmatian coast con-
aiming good ports to the Slav pop
llations of that region. II this be
,rue, as have no doubt ii is, | can
1ot sec why this arrangement should
not have been made.
"The pact of London, according to
the presidents statement provided
for the return of Fiume to Croatia,
but the dissolution of the Austrian
empire has vitally changed the situa'
ion contemplated by the secret teray
If London, and to that secret treaty
he United States was not a party.
repeat that | think Italy should make
arrangements to secure an access to
he Adriatic to the Slav populations
] which hape will form a united inde
pendent barrier state
"As to Fiume, If Italy is of opin
ion that il is necessary to her safety
md fer her protection that she should
hold Fiume | am clearly of the opin
ion that It should be hers, especially
as the people of Fiume, understand
have voted to join with Italy. tally
regards Fiume as the founders of our
republic regarded the mouth of the
Mississippi when it was said that any
other nation holding the mouth of the
Mississippi was of necessity as an
enemy of the United States. earn
estly hope that Fiume may become al
Italian possession so as to give thai
security to which her armies and hel
sacrifice entitle her"