The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
How Plebiscite in
Adriatic City De-
clared for Union
Of the Nj
ality With the
Kingdom of Italy

dream OF applying this principle Of
self determination in regions thus
forcibly cleared Of those who yearn
for relief, which has something sug-
gestive Of the policy pursued by En-
yer, Talaat and other Pro-German
Pashas in Turkey, who conceived that
the best way Of putting an end to the
aspirations for national autonomy OF
| the Armenians was to massacre the
entire race, under circumstances OF
the most atrocious savagery.
Italy md Flumc.
It Is but fair to Italy to point out
that she has been innocent Of any
such methods as the Germans have
employed at Danzig. to get rid of the
Slav inhabitants of Fiume, and TO
render its population Overwhelmingly
Italian. This beautiful city. nestnus
so picturesquely on the Bay Of Qu'T'
naro. has by an almost unanimous
vote of its inhabitants, expressed on
October 80, last. and again the othe-
day its firm resolve to unite itself 10
the Kingdom Of Italy. to which it pro
claimed It's union last November,
hosting the Italian flag over its pub
( lie buildings.
Its rights Of self determination were
recognized as far back as in 1879,
when Empress Maria Theresa, in re-
Spouse to spirited appeal to its peo-
pie, issued a. decree emancipating the
city from all further connection with
or subsection to Croatia and trans
ferred it to the crown of Hungary In
1S4S the Croats took advantage OF the
Mo inSIIrreCtinn IN
session of Ffume by force of arms In
1870 Emperor Francis Joseph. who hai
fifteen years previously accorded 10
FIume a certain measure OF home rule.
once more completely severed its CON
nection with Croatia and restored IL TO
Hungary, who converted it into her
principal seaport. Fiume can claim at
the hands OF the Entente at least as
much regard of the principle Of SELF
determination as was accorded TO her
by the Hapsburg monarchy, for Pres
J tdent Wilson has on several memorable
occasions placed himself on record as
claiming that mo right anywhere e1-
lists to hand peoples about from SOW
) ereignty to sovereignty. as II they
were property, and without regard %
! their consent or self determination
!
these widely proclaimed principles and
the renewed plebiscite last week OF tho
! people of Fiume, either President VII
son or the other Powers of the En-
: tente can any longer insist upon tho
l city being handed over to its former
foes and representation whom even
t Austria felt compelled to free them
; namely, the Croats. now forming part
? nf the TnOn-SIuxy
Had the President accorded moro al
tention to'the plebiscite of the people
: of Fiume in last October, and tn the'r
action in proclaiming their union 20
, Italy by raising the Italian flag. ha
would assuredly have refrained from
e the address of his recent. manifest
about the city. And 1t may be added
T that Premier Orlando and Baron Son
y nino acted with undue precipitanCy IN
Withdrawing from the congress and
d returning to Rome. If the Big Five
/ had shown the calmness and delibera
tioE on the subject of Fiume which ras
characterized all their other protract.d
: negotiations since the New Year mu-',
o unnecessary friction and temporal,
= misunderstanding between Italy AMI
= the other Powers of the Entente could
nave DteIl avoided. CONFRONTED Ia
demand on the part Of Italy for tNe
u possession of Fiume as a spoil uC VIC
Il tory over and above that which hai
:, been pledged to her by France and
:. Great Britain under the terms Of the
: treaties OF London, President WiIsou.
y Clemenceau and Lloyd Georse Cou.5
-, not but demur in view of the fact tIa'
the Entente had already in a measure
undertaken TO assign Fiune as IN"
chief seaport for the Jugo-Slav Con
federation.
% But the appeal Of the people o.
: Fiume and the arguments which 'aey
q present for not being handed over Oh.
n their hereditary archenemies, appea a
now backed up by the well-ngh unani-
Ia nous vote Of the Italian Parliament
\ appear irresistible, in view of the prir-
3 ciples OF self-dctermination OF Pres
~ dent Wilson. But F!umc is not 70
" dispensable TO the national oNisteuc"
IL and welfare OF Italy. and it is n ques-
IN ton whether her Government has
"a acted with prudence in making il 'Nh
le subject OF quarrel with two nation
m upon the friendship Of which their
4 country is SO wholly dependent ~ an
s. economic sense az Great Britain and
10 the United States