Evening star., 1919-04-28
ITALIAN SITUATION
STILL BECLOUDED
Whole Question Turns on
Kind of Peace Allies
Are Evolving.
POSITION OF Mr.. WILSON

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA. April 2S.-Gustave
AdOr, president of the SWISS feder-
alton, has received an urgent sum-
mons to the peace conference in
Paris, and left for Paris Sunday
night. The newspapers here state
that he has been Invited by the
allies to act m arbitrator In the
question Of the Adriatic.
ny JOHN r. BASS
CabIegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1919.
PARIS, April 2s-The Italian situa-
tion remains unsatisfactory. Both sides
have appealed to the public, yet it is
rot clear where the issue rests. In a
general way we know that the Italians
claim their rights under the treaty OF
London and in addition possession of
Fiume under the principle of the self
determination of peoples. But the
Italian claims under the treaty OF Lon
don in respect to Dalmatia are contrary
cause the majority of the population in
the area claimed by Italy in Dalmatia
is Slav.
Italy is willing, however, to make
concessions in Dalmatia. Do these
cessions give the Italians a majority
This is not clear. If 1T were true
they would in a measure be standing
on the principles accepted for peace
On the other hand, I understand that
ing to take Fiume without the sur
rounding Slav country. But do they
desire this only on account Of the Italian
population of Fiume, or is this an
effort to control all the commerce of the
| hinterland, of the -Jugoslavs, Austrf-
ans. Hungarfans and Czechoslovaks.
| II the Italians wanted the annexa-
tion of their own populations, and
| the movement were purely one or ma
tional sentiment, arrangements might
| well be made to give the control of
the port into international hands.
while allowing Italy sovereignty over
the town.
Say Trieste Would Be Killed.
Italians say. that Trieste would be
killed if Fiume became international
since the latter would get all the
Hinterland trade, but if the Italians
were really contemplating.g giving the
trade of the interior of Austria free
access to the sea they could by their
management Of Trieste retain for that
city all the Hinterland trade which 1t
formerly possessed, since it has in
! finitely better port facilities and rail-
road connections. 1t might therefore
turning 10000 Italians to their native
country were really seeking, to the
detriment of the commerce of the
| countries of Austria. to profit by the
control of all the accessible ports of
the Adriatic.
In private talks the Italians say
that the status quo in the Balkans
and Austria favored by some of the
allies is bound to result in peace
which will respect no principles and
that therefore Italy should be given
full scope in the Adriatic to protect
itself against the disorders and con-
hict that have become inevitable.
Undoubtedly President Wilson has
made concessions beyond his prin-
ciples to France in the basin Of the
Saar and on the left bank of the
Rhine, but Frances conduct in the
war places her in an exceptional posi-
ton, although Italy is perhaps worse
off from an economic point of view.
Now, the question is: Is President
Wilson going to stand firm on further
questions concerning central and
eastern Europe so as to remedy abuses
which are undoubtedly developing
there? Will his allies support him
in such a firm stand? The Echo de
Paris expresses fear that the league
of nations is not sufficiently strong
to control the European situation. 1t
indicates the attitude of the French
peace representatives In respect TO
President Wilson'S control of mat
ters in these words:
"They (meaning the French repre-
sentatives) smile and say: We con-
cede the principles and will have our
revenge in their, application to
President Wilson the words, to them
the realities"
Turns on Character of Peace.
The whole question turns on what
kind of a peace is evolving In Europe.
II an adequate league of nations be-
comes a reality and a redistribution
Of territories on photographic lines
and principles of international equity
occur, then Italy is wrong. II. how
ever, the allies and America are pro-
ducing a redistribution of territory in
Europe which amounts to refutation
Of principles and an Affirmation of the
right of the victors regardless of the
desires Of the peoples to dispose of
hn frN1 hot 1ic.r