The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-01

explosion which would make it unsafe
for any Italian statesman to surrender.
The presidents position In the matter
of Ffume has the approval of the
fair and right minded Europeans as
q question OF abstract justice. Italy,
on the contrary. has enormous sympa-
thy, because resentment of American
interference in purely European
questions. and the dictatorial tone
am told the president would choose
to return to America rather than sur
render in the Adriatic matter. But
am equally clearly advised, even by
Americans in touch with the admin
istration. that it is becoming clearer
and clearer that there is small pros
pect that Italy will recede from her
position. If she refuses to recede, she
can hardly be expected to sign the
treaty with Germany, which carries
the realization of at least part of the
French and British demands and
leaves her Adriatic demands pending.
II Italy refuses to sign she has power
to invoke treaty made with her
European allies, not a secret, but a
public treaty. by which Britain, France
and Italy agreed not to make separ-
ate peace with Germany.
Expects France to Refuse.
This raises the final question; If
Italy refuses. will France and Britain
still sign? Here there Is more light.
Unless all indications fail. France will
not break what she regards as a SOL
emn treaty obligation. do not think
there is the slightest chance that
France will desert Italy, although
most Frenchmen sympathize. but if
France and Italy refuse to sign, there
is no treaty of peace. Indications are
that Italy will not be represented at
Versailles and Germany will only re
ceiye terms Informally with grant
OF time to examine these terms, while
her conquerors try to adopt them. In
word an anomalous and unprecedent
ed situation has arisen, and not the
smallest step toward solution has beer
taken. Still another complication
| threatens: Japan has been and re
mains bitterly disappointed at the
failure of her appeal to the league o.
nations to remove the stigma of race
and color placed on her emigrants
/ by the United States and certain Brit
ish colonies. She has in addition 6
! grievance growing out of her secre
| treaty with Britain and France as tt
German possessions in the east, ant
a remedy in her subscription to thu
pact of London.
So much for the difficulties which
are unmistakable. but beneath thu
surface the Italian incident has pro
voked very great European emotion
/ Europe is reaching the conclusion tina
the price she is paying for American
Intervention in European affairs is to'
high and promises ultimate, perhaps
Enthusiasm Has Waned.
/ No one can be in Paris and not fee
this tremendous revolution Of feeling
The numbers of people who actual,
believed in the league of nations wa
j always small. BY contrast, millions o
people entertained a hope which thi
proposal seemed to express. Hence tn
:. vast enthusiasm at the outset. But en-
thusiasm has waned as Frenchmen
Poles. Italians, Roumanians. cal
not speak for the English, because
have no accurate information-discov
cred American opposition in the path
way of the demands which each ma
tionality believed just The Frencl
demand for security and restoration O
the devastated regions and shaken fir
ance, Polish ambition for liberty. econ
omic as well as political; the Italian
dreams of Adriatic supremacy; RoU
manian hopes for racial integrity an,
geographical unity all have beel