The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-26

as we'll as our own. They are to 1c
more the smaller States whose inter
cSts are henceforth to be safeguard
cd as ScrupuiouSly as the interests OF
The most powerful States.
The war WAS ended, moreover, by
proposing TO Germany an arIhistice
and peace which should be founded on
certain clearly defined principles
which set up new order Of right and
justice. Upon these principles the
peace with Germany has been con-
on those principles it will be eXertcd.
We can not ask the great body OF
powers to propose and effect peace
with Austria and establish u new ba-
sis of independence and right iii the
states which originally constituted the
AuStro- hungarian empire and in the
states OF the Balkan group and on
principles another kind. We must APP
ply the same principles to the settle
ment Of Europe in those quarters
that we have applied i'll the peace
with Germany. 1t was upon Gic cspc-
cial avowal of those principles that
the. Initiative for peace WAS taken. 1t
is upon them that the whole struc-
ture of peace must rest.
.If those principles are to be ad-
hered to. Fiume must serve as the
outlet Of the commerce. not OF Italy.
but Of the land to the north and
northeast of that port-IiunSary. 30
hcmia Kumania and the states OF the,
new Jugo-Slav group. TO assign
Fiu,ne to Italy would be TO create:
thc feeling that we have deliberately
put the peril upon which all those
countries chiefly depend for their
access to the Mediterranean in the
hands Of power Of which II did not
fer man integral part and whose SOW
ereiSnty if set up there. must inevi-
ia bly, seem foreign. not domestic or
identified with the coInmercial and
industrial life Of the regions which
the port must serve. 1t is for that
reason. no doubt. that Fiumc was not
included in the pact OF London but
there definitely assigned 10 the Croa-
tians.'
''And the reason why the line Of the
pact cf London swept about many OF
The islands Of the eastern coast OF the
Adriatic and around the portion Of
the Daimatian coast which lies most
open to that sea WAS not only that
here ard there on these islands. and
here and there on that coast. there
are bodies Of people Of italian blood
ani! connection but also. and no doubt
chiefly because it was felt that it was
necessary for Italy TO have Il footho!d
amidst the channels Of the Eastern
Adriatic in order that she might
make her own coasts safe against th.
naval aggression Of Austria Hungary.
But Austria Hungary no longer c%-
lists 1t is proposed that the fortitica-
ton which the Austrian government
constructed there shall be razed and
permanently destroyed.
1t is part also of the new plan @f
European order which centcrS in the
league of nations that the new states
erected there shall accept Il limitation
Of armamentS which puts aggression
out of question. There can be no fear
of the unfair treatment OF groups OF
Italian people there. because adequate
guarantees will he given under inter
national! sanction. OF the equal and
equitable treatment Of all racial or
I national minorities.
In brief. every question associated
with this settlement wears a new, as
pect-a new aspect given it by the
very victory for right for which Italy
has made the supreme sacrifice oi
blood and treasure. Italy, along with
the fou: other great powers. has be-
come one Of the chief trustees Of The
new order which she has played so
honorable a part in establishing.
and or the north and northwest
her natural frontiers are completel:'
restored. along the whole sweep Of
the Alps from northwest to southeast
! to :hc very end of the italian penin-
sula.- including al the greater water
sheds within which TricSt and Pola
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