Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-21


will satisfactorily settle The
dispute.
The decision of the Italian dele
CATION as reported from Paris ap
parently brings to a head the bitter
controversy between Italy and the
new Jugo-Slav state over the dispo
sion of land along the Adriatfc,
formerly belonging to the Austro-
Hungarian empire, which both ma
tionalities claim.
Italy's claims originally included
virtually the entire Dalmatian coast
with Trieste and Fiume, which lat
ter city is the second principal sea
post on. the eastern side of the Ad-
riatic.
Both Claim Fiume.
Recent reports have been that the
Italian representatives we're man
Testing a disposition to make i'm
portant concessions regarding the
land along the Dalmatian coast,
provided that the city and harbor
remained TO Italy, The
Jugo-SIAvs, however, have been IN
sistent that this port be allotted to
them. claiming it to be essentially
a Croatian city and necessary TO the
new Jugo-Slav state as ahording
the only feasible. suitable sea out
let for her commerce.
On the other hand, there has been
no disposition on the part of Italy
to yield her point so far is Fiume
was concerned. Her attitude was
officially stated by Premier Orlando
in addressing the Italian chamber
of deputies March !. when he de-
clared that while Italy remained
faithful to the spirit of conciliia-
ton. which inspired the treaty upon
which Italy entered the war" that
did not mean that she could "re-
main insensible 10 the appeal reach
ing her from the Italian town on the
gulf of Quarnero (Fiume) which
was exposed to the loss of both its
nationality and independence
I'VE do not think" added the
premier. that this position at the
very moment when it is wished that
the world may be redeemed from a
memory of violence done to the
rights Of peoples"
Feeling is Bitter.
There have been several "in-
ciGents" at Fiume and other points
in the territory claimed by both
Italy and Jugo-Slavia, since the
signing of the armistice. and the
feud at one time grew so bitter that
Italy established a blockade and
cut off food relief imports for the
interior. This matter was adjusted
by the supreme council in Paris,
however, and the reports of late
indicated that an amicable settle
ment of the conflicting Italian
Jugo-Slav claims was possible, II
not probable.
Just what has caused the Italian
delegation to announce its decision
on the Fieume question al this
time. has not been developed in the
Paris adviCes. 1t is known, however,
that the question Of territorial ad
justments has been before the con
ference of premiers which have
been taking place during the last
day or two. An Associated Press
dispatch received last night from
Paris regarding a conference held
yesterday between President vii
son and Pramiers Clemanceau and
Lloyd George stated that there was
every reason to believe that the
frontier issues were among the
foremost obstacles which the con
ferees were seeking to remove from
the path to a rapid conclusion Of
the peace treaty
Is Shipping Center.
.Fiume. before the war. was the
chief seaport of the Hungarian
1t has several harbors and
its position made il the seat Of vir-
tually the entire shipping trade Of
II has an ante-bellum
of nearly 10000.