Evening journal., 1919-01-25
DEFENDS ASPIRATION
OF ITALIAN PEOPLE
Editor OF The Evening Journal,
Dear Cir.

Editor OF The Evening Journal,
Dear Sir:
have read Thursdays "Uncle Harry's
Talks" about the italian Jugo -Sloyia
Dispute" in your splendid Evening Jour
nal. The talk copyrighted by the NJ.
Syndicate OF Philadelph, is presum-
ably an impartial illuminative cOlloquy
for popular consumption on the most
burning question of the Peace Confer
ence. But reading through the cross
examination. one cannot fail TO see the
favo. itism shown the Jugo Slavs by the
author Of the articles | shall answer
his points seriatlm:
Uncle Harry" says: The Jugo-Slavs
together with the other subject peo-
Piles, revolted against the tyrannous rule
OF the old Austria-Hungary Monarchy
at the time the Hapsburg Government
had been defeated in the war and was
unable TO put down the revolt" The
truth Of the matter is that the Jugo-
Slavs have never revolted against the
Hapsburgs. The term "Jugo-Slav"
means. etymologically and practically,
Slsvs Of the South, which properly in
cludes Serbia and Bulgaria. The lat
ter nation is purposely ignored by the
advocates Of JugO-Slavia because OF her
treacherous part against the Allies.
Uncle Harry" by mistake, wishes to
refer to the Croatians and Slovenes, who
have always been Austrians, have
fought the Allies on the Western bat
| tlelelds and the Italians on the Italian
front, up to the time Of the signing OF
] Italian-Austrian armistice, then, when
I aIT Of rrfa faf1
through the crushing defeat inflicted by
Italy on Austria-Hungary, they "re-
volted" or rather. assumed the name OF
F, 'Jugo-Slavs," and now ostentatlously
make heavy demands from the Allies
with the view Of splitting them. to the
detriment OF Italy, which has risked her
very existence, first, by her declaration
OF neutrality. making possible the vic
tory OF the Marne. and then, when Rus
sia was crushed and eliminated as
military factor by her declaration OF
war on the Central Empires.
Students Of the Great War cannot de-
ny the decisive assistance given by
Italy in the achievement OF the flnal VIC
tory. II the Croatlans and the Slovenes
were really in earnest as to throwing
of the yoke OF the Hapsburgs, why
didn't they do Il when the Allies were
looking for the defeat OF Germany and
Austria in an International revolution
Uncle Harry" says that the United
States. In common with the Allies. "ap-
proved the right Of the Jugo-Slavs 10
| freedom. Such freedom has never been
denied by Italy individually and as
member OF the Entente. but Italy went
so far as 10 recognize the right OF the
Slavs 10 have an outlet In the Adri-
af.c. The Jugo-Slav propaganda EFFORT
TO put Italy In the same light as Ger
many. that is, depriving the people OF
their liberty, is perfidious. What Italy
wants is the redemption OF her prov
ines. This right has been recognized
by the Allies in the Pact Of London.
which Uncle Harry calls secret diplo-
macy" borrowing President wilson's
phraseology.
This pact was also signed by the
very nation which ended the war In de
! fense Of the Servians. that Is Russia. II
the pact was doing an injustice 10 the
Slavs. Russia would have strongly OBJ
| iected 10 Il. and she was mighty then.
"But the Czarist government OF Russia
says. uncle Harry does no longer eN-
ist." That does not matter, Uncle,
evolutionary Czarism is by far more de-
sirable in the march OF a peaceful
democracy than Bolshevism.
The nations that signed the pact OF
London will honor their signatures. As
10 the United States, who are not a sig
natory party. my plea is that the press
present the question accurately and I'M
partially for the guidance OF public
opftion. An Italian on the other side
Of me Atlantic cannot be thoroughly ia
miliar with American conditions: the
same holds true with the American as
to European conditions; therefore. In
fairness to the three million Italian
Americans in the United States, the
Americans should investigate the prob
lem Of the Adriatic impartially, so to
do Justice to a nation that has sacri-
iced a million and a half men on the
altar Of democracy.
What would be the attitude OF the
Americans IL a 70, eign nation should
claim possession of the Panama canal
the most important connecting channel