New-York tribune., 1919-04-30
The Hated Croats
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In the discussion of the ous.+..
Flume l have seen no reference to or ~
probation of the following facts: s'
l. That the majority of the peon,.
rune are OF Italian race and speak t,s
Italian language. '"s
Z. That in Roman times and dur;r. A.,
Middle Ages it was politically, as it il fnon.>
geographically, part of Istria: ;s So
rated from the Croatian hinterlars Il
range Of mountains and is not the ter,,;..
OF any natural trade route from Croat;s
8. In 1873 the Empress Maria Tha-.
decreec the annexation of Fiums to HIM
gary through union with Croatia. Tho =
habitants at once protested, and n ,.,o
the Empress recognized their right of s.,s
determination and decreed the citv g.,
from any union with Croatia ard d.,
ent directly upon the crown of Hr,n..
This action was affirmed bv d..
adopted in 1907 and 1903.
4. Fiume has always VIOLENTLY ah;.
to the Croatisn domination from the vsss
1s4S, when during the Hungarian rehsi,;aa
against Austria the Croats atta.lss
Hungary and took the opportunity to ss;,a
Fiume by force of arms The lovalt, os
the Croats to Austria was rewarded -
1850 by decree sanctioning the v;o,sn.
union. But in 1852 the Emperor Fro,.,.
Joseph, struck by the hatred of the citizan,
Tor the Croats, gave the city an Austrian
governor, who suppressed the counc,, .s
twenty-four Croats and formed a mun;e;r.,
council of ten citizens, thus giving the, si.v
measure of home rule. The Fium,ars
continued to protest against the incornor.-
ton of their city as part of Croatia ard
refused to send delegates to the Croa+;an
Diet. In January 1868, however. Denut;s.
were elected for the sole purpose Of pre-
sentlng a protest against any kind of
annexation to or dependence on Croatia
which they made in the italian language
and thereupon retired
g. In 1870 the desires of ths neonIa 30
Flume for autonomy were finally recognized
and the commune was detached from
Croatia.
6. 1t thus appears that the Austrians
themselves recognized the right of self
determination of the people of Fiune and
treated them better than the Allies pro
pose to do.
7. During the Croatian occupation Of the
city the Croats did nothing to increase
the commerce of the port or to provide
transportation facilities with the hintar-
land. The railway which connects the citv
with Karlstadt in Hungary, was not built
until 1873.
g. The Croats, to whose domination
President Wilson proposes to return
this Italian city, aided Austria against
Hungary in the latter's fight for freedom In
lS48, and they again sided with Austria
during the present war. 1t Is difficult TO
see why people who have been our enemies
and the traditional oppressors of the people
of Fiume should be preferred to our Italian
allies, or why the contest for the control
Of this Italian city should be settled more
favorably to the Croats than the Austrians
themselves thought proper The fact that
the Croats now call themselves Jugo- Savs
does not, in itself seem to change the
situation IT would certainly be more in
harmony with the fourteen commandments
that the desire Of Fiume TO become part Of
Italy should receive some attention. The
Inconsistency Of tho treatment Of Fiume
and Danzig is very striking
WILLIAM GREEN0UGH
New York, April 27, 1919.