The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-20
Ct !. EIMENCEAIIIIS ATTACKED BY
WOULD-BE ASSASSIN, WHO Is 4
FOILED in ATTEMPT ON LIFE
Frontier Between
Italy and Austria
By Gnglielinno Ferrrrp.

Rome Feb fs.--The fixing Of a
satisfactory frontier on the north be-
tween Italy and Austria lis a problem
comparatively easy OF solution. since In
the Rhaetian Alps Italy's natural from
tier Is only broken by a small German
population numbering about 200. 900
living on the southern slopes of these
mountains.
Whatever may be the future rela-
tons between Italy and her Teutonic
nefghbor, 1t is unlikely that these half
deserted high Alpine valleys which
belong geographically to Italy. were
Italian for centuries and Will return
spontaneously to their allegiance when
they cease to form part of a German
state. will ever prove the cause of flu
ture wars and discussions
The problem of Italy's eastern from
tier and OF her future relations with
the Jugo-Slav world is a far more COM
plicated one. The Eastern Alps, as we
all know. form a kind Of angle one
branch extending southwards as far
as the Gulf of Guarnero, while a rocky
spur, starting at Monte Maggire. runs
down to the shores of the Adriatic
close to Cape Fianoua-
What of Istria7
Between the latter branch OF the
Alpine range and the sea lies a region
known to history and geography for
1000 years as Istrta. This region was
included in Italy by Augustus and was
regarded as the extreme limit of Italy
throughout the ages of geographers.
historians, politicians and poets alike.
all OF whom regarded tine Julian Alps
as the natural frontier of Italy. The
question should therefore never have
heen matter of controversy. Never
theless what was universally accepted
for centuries has during the last fifty
years become the subject of heated ar
guments. The population of Istria
proper-the fstria of history and geog-
raphy. not the Istria of Austria-is not
purely Italian, but n mixture of Itai-
ian and Siav elements. the former pre-
dominating In the towns. the latter in
the rural districts, so that the two
races are inextricabiy mixed In the
whole region
1t Is therefore ont of the question to
think OF dividing 1t into Italian and
Siav zones, allowing each race to rule
over its own territory. One OF the tive
races must submit to the domination
Of the other. And while tbs Italians
lock upon Istria as an Italian region
which should rightfuliy form n part oil
the kingdom OF italy, there has arisen
during the last few years among the
which lays claim to It as an integral
part OF the future Jugo-Slav state.
Figures Show Facts.
What are We TO think Of these
claims? What is the true nationality
of Istria. according to the theory OF
nationality we have accepted az the
criterion by which these knotty aues-
tons are TO be decided?
Let us first turn to statistics and see
which OF the two races of Istria Is in
the majority. The figures even ac-
cording to Austrian statistics. leave us
in no doubt rs to the answer.
Italians. Siavs.
Gorilla and Gradisca. $4,000 $4,000
Trieste and district $4,000 5s.oeQ
western Istria .14S,000 $4,000
Totals ...,.-.. 3S4, o00 1900
We know that even statistics were
pressed into the service of POLITICS in
the Austro- Hungarian empire and
that the government favored the Slav
population in Istria 10 the detriment
~ q - $-1s