The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-06
ACTUAL ATTITUDE
OF ITALY BIGGEST
F|UME QUESTION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The New
Scin1ltar).


W WASHINGTON, oct. 6--What is It.
ABYSS, game just now? Does her gov
eminent really approve of the D'Annun-
zio venture in boldly seizing Fiume
while the peace conference at Paris
talks, or IS the Italian government face
70 race with civil war and really fear
lul or D'Annunzio's strength?
Anybody who could answer these
questions accurately would know the
direction Of American policy in the
Adriatic Plainly the American mission
at Paris Is not altogether sure and
therefore officials back home are more
or less In the dark. But one thing Is
rather definite, Italian subjects, in
deed a portion of the Italian army, has
seized by force a piece Of territory
whose disposition has been in dispute.
Clearly also the Jugo- SlaVs, from whom
the territory has been taken, are get
ting ready for resistance. DAnnunzio
virtually declares a state of war with
Jugo- Slavia. Can the United States
render any decision in such clrcum-
Italy is appealing to President Will
son to sove the problem. He has been
asked to hasten his decision Some OF
the persons who are observing the sit
uation closely say the Fiume coup
detat has been used to force the pres
dents hand
Mr. Wilson has answered He is UNI
relenting In his views about Fiume.
But II would not be surprising II it be-
came known that he had also refused
even to suggest settlement while
DAnnunzion remained In Fiume, where
by arbitrary force section Of the
italian army has violated the amistice
agreement for the patrol OF the terri.
tory on the western coast Of the Adrl
attic. FN
Already in Treaty. I
The presidents central principle that
there must be discussion before there is
war has not yet been adopted by the
league OF nations, but Italy has signed
the peace treaty with Germany wherein
that principle Is written and has also
a treaty with tho United States requr-
ing discussion of year before military
force Is resorted to. But as between
Jugo -Slavia, new republic, and Italy
there Is no agreement. And the peace
conference at Paris Is the only authori-
~ which can straighten out the tangle.
The Italian government fears the con
sequence OF D'Annunzio's act and fears
that any solution proposed may come
too late. The followers Of the poet
| aviator are numerous and they argue
| that possession IL nine points OF the
law, But II the doctrine of seizure OF
| territory Is to be allowed, even while
| the peace conference talks. the main
purpose for which the president fought
at Paris will have been transgresseG
so consplcuously as to have adverse
effect on the moral strength Of the
eagueFof nations itself
1t Is quite possible that an adjust
| ment satisfactory TO the present Italian
government may be reached eventually
but the D'Annunzio coup d'etat can not
be sanctioned by the United State;
government Italy may not sign tn,
| treaty with Austria or the American
/ government may never give Its consent
TO the transfer Of the territory to ltal.
Or vice versa. but so far as reaching
an adjustment while D'Aununzio re
mains In Fiume, the odds are agalns
any such result.
Italy officially deplores the D'Annun
zio incident at the same time that he
ministers and delegates seek to I'M
press the United States government
that unless Fiume is given to then
D'Annunzio will lead successful rev
olution. Under such circumstances
with President Wilson i'll and unable Il
give personal attention to any publi'
business, even of the most urgent char
acter, the responsibility for any deci
cision must rest with Premier Clemen
seau and Prime Minister Lloyd 0eorg
In conference with Frank u. Polk, heal
OF the American mission. To civ
Fiume to Italy may prevent an inter
nal political crisis hut II may not pre-
vent war In the Balkans between Jugo
Slayia and the Italian frontier troops,
And just such racial clashes In tn
Balkans have started bigger fires burn
ing The supreme peace council a
Paris Is being put to the acid test an
the Italian government must accept re
sponsbility for the Fiume affair an
secure the withdrawal of D'AnnunZn
or the use OF arbitrary force win b
encouraged elsewhere in Europe Ion
before the league OF nations can &C
goipg and call Europe's indictments I
order. That seems to be the Washing
ton view OF the Italian situation.
Copyright, 1919, by David Lawrence