The Washington herald., 1919-01-05

London, Dec. 1.--(by maiD-Two
Great Powers, one of the Oldest in
the world and the other yet in the
thrCes of birth. face each other in
mutual suspicion across the narrow
Adriatic Sea that divides them. To
maintain peace and good relations
between Italy and the new Yugo
Slav state is not only the toughe st
nut the peace conference must
crack. The row now developing
is that eternal Balkan spectre which
has caused so many wars, appear
ing in new guise. And the Balkan
ghost must be laid; upon that de-
pends the peace of the world.
1t is not for Americans to take
sides in such a quarrel. American
policy is to see that justice is done
and promote good feeling. Looking
at this matter from a purely Ameri-
can or impartial viewpoint, l have
obtained from the most competent
Italian and Yugo-Slav quarters fair
statements of the rival claims of the
two nations, and these are set down
below with no conclusions drawn in
favor of either party.
The coptrol of the Adriatic is the
bone of contention. But behind this
issue lie the ambitions of the heir
of Imperial Rome to continue the
foremost power of the Mediterranean
world, and the cloud on her horizon
represented by a vigorous healthy
Slav nation that plans to take the
place of the decrepit Hapsburg mon
archy and whose natural trend of
trade and expansion is towards the
Mediterranean basin. A Yugo-Slav
nation that in the course of time at
tracted within its orbit Greece and
Bulgaria might well become more
powerful than Italy. And this is the
unspoken thought that lies behind
many of the arguments that will be
advanced by the Slav and Latin dis
putants around the green table in
Paris.
Adrintic Chief Prize.
In the struggle for power that both
Italy and YIgo-Slavia foresee the
Adriatic Sea constitutes the initial
prize which each side is determined
to win at the Peace Conference. Italy
regards the Adriatic as one of her
lungs, an apt image, as a glance of
the map shows. She wants to make
the Adriatic an Italian lake: while
willing to concede large portions of
coast line and several ports to Yugo-
Slavia, the Italian navy through the
possession of strategic islands and
ports. Is to render assured beyond
possibility of challenge the suprem-
aCy of Italy in Adriatic waters. Such
is Italy program.
Yugo-Slavia will have none of this
Serbia, her sufferings and heroism
unexampled during the past four
years, believes herself in conjunc-
tion with her newly-fTeed breth-
rem the Slovenes and Croatians des-
tined to become great world power.
Replacing the extinct Austrian mon
archy as the dominant nation of
Southeastern Europe. Yugo-Slavia de
mands fleet. and is in possession OF
the Austro- Hungarian ships. But.
more important than a fleet. Yugo-
Slavia wants sea coast and will not
give up to Italy if possible the ports
and islands that would place Slav
shipping and cities in the hollow OF
the hand of Italy's navy.
Both countries would rather fight
than give in. That is why the situa-
ton is intensely serious The good
sense of the great powers Of the
world is determined that they shall
not fight; international occupations
have replaced Italian on the East
coast of the AdriatiC wherever CoIli-
sions have occurred between Siav
and Italian; and Europe looks to
America to supply much of the cool
argument and firm direction that will
keep two proud and powerful peoples
from flying at each others throats
before next year is out. Italy and
Austria have long been hereditary en-
emies. because of their rival amhi-
tions, and Yugo-Slavia seems des-
tined to take over many of the Iiabli-
ties as well as the assets of the
Hapsburg empire.
To Get Acid Test.
The league of nations, the prin-
ciple OF elf-determination. and all
other ideaIistic and disinterested
war aims voiced by President Will
son, and supported by the bulk of
liberal opinion in Europe. will be
tested in the furnace by their abil-
ity or failure to solve this desper-
ately difficult conflict, which ii is
useless to attempt to gloss over. as
has been the fashion in allied coun-
tries. According to the principle
that the majority in any territory
are entitled to decide to what al
legiance they shall subscribe, the
YUgO-Slavs claim the east coast of
the Adriatic because the majority
of the inha abitants are Slav, but. as
/ shall show. the Italians advance
COunter-claims which cannot be
lightly dismissed.
The expiring Austrian government
made over to the Yugo-Slav power,
the Austrian fleet then lying in the
great naval base of Pola. and the
ships have since remained under.
the tri-color of Yugo-Slavia. with
the exception of the battleship "Vir-
ibus Units" the Austrian flag shin.
sunk by a time bomb two days after
it had been taken possession of by
the YugO-Slavs. Admiral Vukovfch.
with 300 of his men, were blown up.
There is no reason to suppose that
the Italians who caused the expIo-
sion were aware OF the changed
political situation, but the unfor-
tunate affair infiammcd feeling on
both sides.
An unpublished incident will indi-
cate the situation. On November Q
while the Yugo-Slav, or Austrian
warships We're preparing to depart
for Corfu under a white flag to
place themselves at the disposal. not
of italy. but of the allies. an Italian
squadron steamed outside the har-
Dor of Pola' and requested the sur
render of the feet. The admiral
commanding the Yugo-Slav ships
sent a wireless message to Paris.
protesting against this demand, and
although the Italians also supported
their claim at Versailles. prompt
and exceedingly radical measures
were taken by Premier Clemenceau
to prevent the Italians from attack