Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-11
~'.Inrelcemed Iialy"

4 " nv E"ftOi " lH' EttHlVU fUUtiC LfuUfI :
Sir-This is an appeal for a better UNDER
standing of Italy and her motives. by the
people and press of America. 1t is
addressed to your newspaper because Of the
demonstrated fairness of its viewpoint.
people, familiar with the
facts. have been amazed by the adverse re-
ports of American correspondents upon the
Italian.Jugo-Slav boundary question. These
reports certainly are prejudicial to ltaly's
reputation and integrity. This evident prop
uganda has been so sudden and i'm
moderate in its tone as to lead one to in
quire what is behind the inimical. con-
temptuous, overly-crltical journalistic ar
raignments of Italian aspirations that daily
crowd the columns of British and American
newspapers and periodicals.
What sudden. evil attributes has Italy
developed that it should bring upon her bit
ter criticism and distrust in this hour of
Allied victory? What is the motive behind
the severe task-taking of a nation that the
world Is slowly but surely recognizing al,
the real savior of the Marine n nation that
opportunity stepped into the Allied breaches
on more than one occasion and helped snatch
victory out of apparent defeat? Why should
an attempt he made to foist stigma upon
her for grasping the opportunity offered to
all the Allies through their united victory?
II Is claimed that in aspiring TO ths
Adriatic Italy is betraying those noble i'm
pulses that have animated the Allies in the
struggle so happily ended. In what man
ner? Let us view this question fairly. No
one disputes the justice of Frances claim to
Alsace-Lorraine. Yet consider this one fact
Ill per cent of the population of these two
provir are French-spcaking 81 per cent
&c. nan. Then, let us bear in mind another
question. Italy aspires to repatriate n land
containing $50, 600 Italians and not more
than 10000 Jugo-Slavs. But. it will be
exclaimed, France was robbed of her two
provinces some forty years ago! So was
Italy. Wherein. then, lies the difference in
the equity of the two claims? Why should
We all support the action of one country,
but criticize and discourage the action of
another? Is propaganda the answer?
From Italy's participation in the war TO
its very end. she has been a nation mis-
understood. Many have attributed her
entrance into the struggle to the most sordid
motives. AS il any other Powers, with the
possible exception of France. went to war
because of pure idealism. Take our own
county, for example. If America was
moved to bring her mighty power to bear
in the struggle from purely idealistIc mo-
tives. ito save civilization" why did she not
rush into the fray when Belgium was being
crushed. when the Lusitania was sunk, when
Serbia was engulfed and when Rumania be-
came a mere geographical expression? If,
subsequently, we answered to the call of
civilization only. why did we not act when
civilization was first attacked?
Because America is practical. Just rs Eng
lama was nTdClltsil, ana JUST as inc many
other nations were pradical. when they
threw their lot in with the Allies. Did their
action, however, bring forth critical COM
ment? Little, II any. But Italy-she has
been characterized as the most speculative
Of the Allied world Powers. While the
world has Permitted a weller of sentimental
ism to warp its vision when viewing the
achievements and affairs of England and
France, Belgium and other nations, inns
same world has been s~uperhumanly clear
eyed in discerning the flaws of Italian born
developments whether political or military,
social or educational.
When Italy attacked Austria, her inter-
vention was Historically approved by Allied
neighbors: when the Jugo-Slav question
caught the attention Of Italy and the Slavs.
they mildly admonished the latter and coun-
seled moderation. This, during the war.
Now, these same neighbors injudiciously in
ject into a delicate problem an indiscreet.
immoderate measure of critical propaganda
that Is moving infant states. not yet born.
to aspire to equality with man-grown.
mature democracies, whose liberties and
culture have been dearly bought through
years of national anguish and bloodshed.
And these so-called Slavs-who are they?
Many Of them. at least their greatest agita-
tors 1--WE except their legitimate, recognized.
patriotic leaders) were yesterday hut the
Austrian oppressors. the Hungarian despots
ardent, loyal, desperate defenders of the
Hapsburg dynasty, the fall of which, so they
would have us believe, has transformed
them into liberty-loving. freedom-shouting.
time-trampled Slavs! 1t is about time we
removed the blinkers from our eyes and saw
things in their true light.
The question of frontiers, as related to
Italy and the many new Slav nations, is one
of Infinite difficulty, The Allied Powers ana
their friends, rather then complicate the
situation by looking upon the matter with
an impatience and intolerance that they omit
in considering their own affairs and prob
lens. should endeavor to aid the nation that
aided them in their dire need. If there are
secret treaties that include Italy, We SHOULD
remember there are secret treaties that in
clude France and England and the Russia
that was, as we'll as Japan and other smaller
nations. There is a great deal OF fuss made
over the treaty Involving Italy, but the one
binding France and England to exclusively
administer vast tracts of land throughout
the world are studiously ignored by those
correspondents one of whom proclaimed in
one of the Ledgers that the terms of the
Treaty OF London aroused disgust" over
ltaly's greed.
italy has aaDiratlouu that fbpou~h a