Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12
The President and Italy's Claims

The President and Italy's Claims.
:. That President Wilson will at tho
peace conference support Italy's trans
Adriatic claims only in part is q re-
port from Paris which, while perhaps
merely speculative, is nevertheless an
Interesting reflection of gossip bearing
on one Of the most perplexing prob
lens of the peace adjustment. In the
course Of his recent visit to Italy Mr..
: Wilson stated his purpose to urge JUS
tiee for that country in the matter OF
the "irrcdenta He was, however,
properly indefinite as to the terri
torial limitations he regards as just.
It would have been most indiscreet in
him, soon to sit virtually as judge in
The ease, to announce his own opinion
In advance of the hearing of the case.
When the London treaty was signed,
in April, 1915, on the basis of which
the allies pledged themselves to secure
ior Italy, in the event of victory. GER
tain areas regarded by Italy as her own
by historical, strategic and racial
!. rights, there was--there could have
been-Ro conception Of the complete
breakup of the Austro- Hungarian en-
pire and the liberation of the Jugo-
sSiavs, long claimants for autonomy.
III Italy's claim to the Daimatian coast,
recognized in that treaty, was largely
biased upon considerations of defense.
: With Austria Hungary remaining a
major power, though possibly curtaiied
in area, her possession Of Dalmatia and
other parts of the eastern Adriatic
ashore would be constant menace to
Italy. 1t was primarily to Yeassure
italy as to her future security that the
London treaty was framed to include
that territory in the "irredenta" to be
returned to Italy in case of allied vic
tory.
= Now that Austria Hungary is breaking
: into it's eomponents as separate nations
two principles como into conflict, that
suppressed in the London treaty and
s4tst Of the "sef-dctermination" Of
peoples. President Wilson has laid
particular stress upon the latter ia his
Nttefanees. 1t is hardly likely that he
sssin now repudiate it in any position
70 takes upon Italy's claims. Those
who framed the treaty Of London
.uesid not completely discount all pos
sibie developments Of war which had
soaly inst started and the winning Of
which was far distant.
&. II Is true that Italy's aid in the fight
WAS vitality important. Possibly it may
-sbe that without it the allies could not
bare won victory, even with Italy neu-
trail Certainly they would not have
won with Italy hostile, thus coneen-
trating a great enemy fierce upon all
sides of France save the short Swiss
freatieF. It is not Of moment that
ITALY perhaps would not have been
opght into the war as the ally Of the
-ssntral powers, owing to the intense
aehatsed Of both Germany and Austria
tat By the people Of that country. The
ofact remains that Italy entered the
war On the side Of the entente, de-
sslisered some effective blows. held a
very large part Of the Austrian army
: and . material section Of tho German
|. fosces engaged on the southern front
.saad prevented concentration Of the
I enemy-espeeialiy after the Russian
roliapse-ngainst the French and Brit
5ish. Italy may we'll claim to have been
"a most material factor in the victory.
But that fact, it is held by those who
view the ease impartialIy, does not
warrant disregarding the rights Of the
Slavic peoples released bS tho Aus
TRAN breakup. IL is needfui to re-
- member that these people never re.
iinquished their nationalistie claims
during eli the years Of Turkish oppres-
sion and Austrian misrule. Two Of
them. Seshians and MontcnegYins, kept
their autonomy. Now they have unit
ed, with remarkable harmony-broken
only by slight reaction in Monte
negro. which is not regarded as symp-
tomato OF se.ions-and ask for the
: lands they have always occupied and
which they arc prepared to govern
psscesbiy aud in spirit Of the ut
most respect for Itaiy's rights.
Military control Of the Adr;atic BY
Italy through possession Of Aviona
they are willing to coneede. But they
demand, IS primary requirement for
their proper national development, not
merely access to but possession Of the
cssst as IN outlet for their commerce.
Il Is to b expected that President
wilson. in pursuance Of his pronounce
naeat Tor seelfdeterminatien." will
u1gs at Paris that this be granted.
1As reds haye tried 70 evolve "kul-
Ms2 Of thsis own in Berlin.
..