New-York tribune., 1919-04-25
Breaking the Coalition

with respect to major matter, re-
lated closely to the future peace of the
world, events at Paris have turned out
as long feared
The great coalition of democratic ma
tions whose supreme sacrifice won a
victory for a better world is in grave
danger of being broken. A constituent
member of the grand league which has
done so much and from whose continu-
ance so much was hoped believes it has
been unjustly treated by its associates
and meditates withdrawal as the only
way to preserve its self-respect.
is the coalition to endure? This is the
question, rather than the disposition of
Fiume, before the Paris Conference. An
American orator did under analogous
circumstances cry out: "The union and
nothing but the union!' Division defeats
the purpose of the war.
Whether the flag of Italy is to float
over Flume or not is itself local Qucs-
ton, interesting as such but not of su-
preme world import. The other issue.
the issue of whether proud and high
souled democratic country is to be within
or without the company of noble feder-
alton which is to guard the future of
the world, strikes at the very roots of
the world settlement
It is of consequence what this coun-
try and President Wilson think in re-
gard to Fiume; it is of consequence
what
France thinks. But of infinitely more
consequence is what Italy thinks. This
basic factor should color all comment
in the crisis, and the weakness of the
Presidents declaration is his failure to
recognize it. To drive Italy to embit-
tered isolation, to create situation in
which she may be compelled in self
protection to seek associations other than
those she prefers, betrays a grave lack
of imagination.
Whether Italy in all respects is JUS
tlfied in her course-as to this MANY
things may be said both ways. But per-
sons with love for future peace in their
hearts must see that interests too great
depend on holding Italy's friendship to
permit logic chopping and Sinaitic thun-
dering against her. Her opinions and
her sensibilities, perforce must be spc-
cially regarded
flume Is an ancient Italian cty,
majority of whose inhabitants are still
italian despite one hundred years of
Austrian effort to drive them out. Con
cernng 1T an Italian must he presumed
TO he q better Judge than an American.
The very name calls to Italian hearts.
To italy Fiume is u part of ltalia
lFreden'a which Garibald fought to re.
Veem, u Is portion of the Alsace-
lorraine of the eastern Adratie which
Napoleon henaparte, when he destroyed
Nehlee, saw Mt, for ImperIalstie reasons.
10 aAslan ia Austria The italian is
es'''ed 40 he sees every read of Alsaea.
Lorraine returned to France, while his
'flehds argue lke German lawyeps
seaihst giving to him the benefit of d
nhiilat restoration.
'ne average American would be sat.
.Shea win { settlement either wav ~
~ inclined, If he has any opinan "a siaa
WIN Jugo slavia, for she 10 sn,a1 All
'eab' and American symps,hv sron'
"neousy runs to the small and woat
These things concern 1talv ratha.. .,.
ourselves. We have no special stnoss
'or noiolng the scales between Jtalian
ana Jugo-Slav. But it does concern 40 -
lave Italy still march with ia
IL is clear that the Fourteen Point.
construed and elsewhere annlied hauo
"'.'e pertlnence- 1t would be hypocrjt.
cal 10 say that nationalism has NOT co,
orcd decisions arrived at. We ins;s+oa
on the Monroe Doctrine, our favorite ma.
tional dogma. The voice of Great pr;t
am has been needed in the disnosal of
ene herman colonies. The special posi-
u'n OF Australia in the South Seas has
oeen acknowledged Italy may well CON
tend that her Adriatic Doctrine ;s bor
Monroe Doctrine
We elected Spain from Havana and
hardly would have been satisfied if tb.
'ocal spaniards there had set up q new
government and had said that the his
tory OF Spain should not be remembered
',aiy rs apparently honestly convinced
Ihat the Jugo-Slavs arc not much differ.
ent from Austrians and IIunearjana
WIN respect TO hostility to italy. Amer
..ahs must face the question of what
'hey would think in an Italians place.
'reat Britain and France having an
parently approved the American official
position, the presumption, of course Il
that Italy is unreasonable. But 70 nro.
se"1 a smashing Of the coalition, to keep
awe thc concert on which everything de