The Washington herald., 1919-05-14
ITALY RESENTS
HER EXCLUSION
FROM new PACT
Felt that Triple Alliance
Confesses Weakness in
League of Nations.
BARS WAY TO FRANCE
Plains of Western Frontier
Possible Highway of In
vasion by Slav Allies.

The apparent omission Of Italy
from the contemplated Franco-Brit-
ish and American alliance consti-
tutes a threat against the future
peace of Europe which, even the
league OF nations cannot guard
against. according to opinions ex-
pressed in Italian circles here yes
terday.
Forceful invasion OF Europe has
always come from the East, and its
new gateway to France. after the
destruction of German fortifcations
m the fifty kilometer zone east Of
the Rhine. will be across the north
ern plains OF Italy. it was said.
1t is this reason. coupled with a
desire that Italy's national security
be safeguarded as much as that Of
France that has aroused indigna-
ton In Italian quarters because Of
the slight upon their nation.
ItaIy's Part in War.
Why is Italy. who fought by the
side of the allies throughout the war.
whose neutrality enabled France to
rush more than a million men from
the southern frontier at the out
break of hostilities to stem the tide
of invasion, left without material
friends?
This is the question that is asked,
and ii bears out the belief of the
Italian people that the league of ma
tions will not guarantee the perpet
ual integrity OF their country.
They feel that il whole souIed''
confidence were placed in the league
II would not have been necessary for
France TO ask for additional secur-
ity in the form of promised assis-
fance from the Unitsd States and
Great Britain. AMI the result is that
they are extremely dubious regarding
the future of the league.
The state Department * as vet I'M
advised concerning the particular, Of
the Anglo-FrenCh and American nacf
IN" suggestion was made TO-DAY. how
ever. that ltaly's chief adversary and
enemN-the ustro-Hungarian mon
archy-no longer exists. whereas
France still faces a united Germany
IL lS this reason seemingly that re-
Iuires France to have something
more material than the league.
First Bar To SIays.
Italians; though. declare that
ltalys Eastern frontier is the FIRST
bar to the Slavs. Moreover. they
say. that although the Austro- Hum
SarIan monarchy Is out Of existence.
ItaiEs frontiers still face the
CroatS, Slovencs and German Aus
trlans. peoples who possess Ger
manic tendencies. and who might.
because OF antipathy to Italy. join
with Germany in another combined
assault against that nation and
France. choosing Northern Italy as
the route of invasion.
A policy. they say. which can see
only Eastern Europe as il is today.
instead of foreseeing what il might
be twenty or thirty years hence. is
one which Peace Conference states
men may yet rue.
iiiSA'iN supports lnflf COntcn-
tions. for il was through the gates
OF the Julian Alps that the warrior
hordes Of Theodore. the Lombards :
with Albion, the Huns with Attila.
and the Herules with Odoacer swept
into Italy. Attila continued his in
vasion across the plains and pcnc-
trated the heart of France before he
met defeat.
New Russia A. Menace.
The future. according to their reas-
oninE. may see a new Russia as a
menace for western Europe or a COM
bined Russian-German alliance which
would have the domination of the en-
tire continent as its objective.
The prospective immediate isolation
of Italy by the Peace Conference
might cause Italy 10 seek protection
among neiEhborS whose association
she does not desire. but without
whose protection she would be r
tempting territory for other aEgres-
sive countries.
Latest dispatches indicate that
France sides with Italy on this view.
as there has Leen reported change
of heart among French statesmen
with regard TO the Fiume question.
Italy. it is said. is standing pat
on her original demands. and is wait
iDr for a dafiDita and final IcciSiop