The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-21
Crisis Brought About by Seizu !,
Fiume Awakens Sympathy III u
For King Emmanuel-Littl. /.
Common Between Sensational
Poet and Patriot Garibaldi
By F. CUNLIFFE.oWEN.

trines of self-determination, voted for
the annexation of their city to italy,
to which the latter as well as France
and Great Britain were willing to give
their approval-and when President
Wilson suddenly raised his voice
against the project on the ground that
it interfered with his plan for the
seaboard of the Jugo-S lav Confedera-
ton, that a popular movement was
created almost over night in Italy,
insisting upon the possession of Fiume
at all costs. Had not the President
raised his voice against the annexa-
ton of Fiume to Italy, the people Of
the latter would have continued rela-
lively Indifferent to the acquisition
and future of that city, which, as
Chauneey M. Depew SO sagely re-
marked, was infinitely less we'll known
to the American people than his ma
tive town Of Peekskill. And there
would have been no Fiume question.
Baron Sonnino, then Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, and his chief, Premier
Orlando, whose political position was
extremely precarfuus and who were
In danger OF defeat, saw the oppor-
tunity of reviving their waning popu-
larity by ardently championing the
annexation OF Fiume, to whose future
they had until then given no thought.
They showed themselves SO agrees
sive and suff in dealing with the sub
1ect at the Peace Conference in Paris
that Woodrow Wilson adopted the en-
traordinary course, without precedent
In the annals OF international state
craft, OF issuing a direct appeal to the
Italian people against their Govern
ment. that is to say. against sonnino
and Orlando.
Presidents Purpose Fails.
The Presidents message had an
effect Numerically opposite to that
which he had anticipated. The Ital-
ian people saw In his message an
affront by foreign ruler to their ma
tional sovereignty They rose almost
like one man against him In behalf
of the Orlando Government, whose
course was endorsed iby an over
whelming vote in the Legislature at
Rome. For a few weeks popular SEN
timent against the United States was
Very pronounced. The press was most
hostile and the economic relations be-
tween the two countries were seri-
ously impaired.
And then. as usual, the second
thoughts Of the Italians prevailed.
| They had had time for reflection.
Warned by Francesca Nitti. that one
Italian statesman who knows Ameri-
ca better than anyone else In public
life at Rome, that the good will and
support OF the United States was a
matter of life and death to the econ
umlc existence OF Italy, that the lat
! ter was commercially, industrially
and financially dependent upon this
country, they came to the conclusion
that the friendship of the United
States was worth more to Italy than
score OF Fumes. They drove Orr
lando and Sonnino out of office, gave
their support to Nitti and their en-
dorsement TO his Pro-Amerlcan views
and landed him in the Premiership.
Italy Gets Her CoaI.
Immediately there was a relaxation
OF the strain in the relations between
the United States and Italy and an
Improvement in those with France
! and with Great Britain, both of which
Powers had been antagonized by the
thickness Of the course pursued by
Sonnino. The Washington Adniini-
! stration Immediately established an
additional credit OF s50.o0o.0 900 in favor
Of Italy, In order to enable her 10
make the necessary purchases Of coal
cotton, ore and other raw materials
while France and Great Britain both
agreed to allow Italy to defer for
some years to come the payment OF
the interest on the large sums adj
vsnced TO her during the war. The
plans OF Premier Nitti for economic
reconstruction met with universal APP
prevail In Paris. in London and In this
country. and above all NittIs ncheme