South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-11
TTALY'S FiUME VICTORY WOULD BE
EMPTY ONE AT ITS BEST.

THOSE INSTRUMENTATION newspapers. loyal to
L Henry Cabot Lodge as were the ancients to
their gods, who have thought they finally had some
thing great on the president because OF his reputed
semi-change Of front, along with the rest Of the al
lies with reference to the Fiume affair. now appear
20 have another think coming. II is altogether prob
able that had the news held of a day or two longer
they would have taken over the presidents former
attitude. just TO oppose him-and then they could
have said. "oh yes. but we forced him 70 turn back"
Democratic newspapers are snickcred IT for being
put in a bad hole, for having rushed to the presi-
dents backing without waiting for developments.
But it develops now that the president has not
changed, and did not change; never joined with
France and England in their wish to placate Italy
by a three year mandatory over Fiume as a free
port under the League Of Nations, il then to pass
TO her, a new port for Jugo-Slavia TO be built. The
president is standing firm by his position, and Italy
viii be quite content TO insist upon full payment OF
the bride which induced her TO quit the triple
alliance and join the entente, under the treaty or
London. This would give italy Dalmatia and the
Dodecamesz islands, opening up the mean and
secret trickery OF the entente toward Greece. but
10 iron out that old system Of the greater powers in
making pawns Of the Balkans, is one Of the things
the peace conference is for. 1t must correct the ag-
gravations that kept the entente and triple aui-
ances at each others throats. finally resulting in
the world war, or there might about as well be no
peace conference.
Still. while the observation-disclosures were pout-
ing geefu1y over what they saw as another presi-
Dental change OF from, by the man so "~wabbly"
that he wouldn't let the senate run his affairs-it
might not have been so bad. even if he had changed.
The victory for Italy would have been a rather
empty one, which she didn't want, in her greed.
and it may account for her abandoning il so easily.
What Italy really wanted of Fiume was to cripple
Jugo-Slavia and leave her without a port. and with
such a port TO be built for her by the League OF
Nations--a window TO the sea" without sentimental
attachment, but of practical value.-Italy saw in it
that the sentimental attachment would be about
al she would get in Fiume.
Really, but for standing by his doctrine Of self
determination, since the Franco British plan did
take care Of the free port" proposition. we do not
know but the president ought TO have Joined them.
and rendered the Italians the lemon" that they de-
serve. As it is. he is a better friend to Italy than
Italy is TO herself, but of course, that friendship
will hardly be recognized when the Grecian problem
is injected into it-for the president, we anticipate,
will also stick for some eIf-determination as to
Greece. That problem will have TO be solved on
a basis of justice and future unity also-and who
ever heard of a latin power having any considerable
conception Of justice, or to care a rap for a future
amity, that infringes upon its present s~elhshness or
vanity.