The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-06
WHAT IS GAME
OF ITALY NOW?
Has Seizure of Fiume Been
Used to Force Presidents
Hand in Controversy?
(bY DAVID LAWRENCE.)

Washington, Oct. 6.--(Copyrighted
for The Chattanooga News)-What
| is Italy's game Just now? Does her
government really approve Of the
D'Annunzio venture in boldly seizing
Fiume while the peace conference at
Paris talks, or is the Italian govern
nent face to face with civil war and
really fearful of D'Annunzios
strength?
Anybody who could answer these
questions accurately would know the
direction of American policy in the
Adriatic. Plainly, the American mis-
sion at Paris Is not altogether sure.
and, therefore, the officials back home
are more or less in the dark. But
one thing is rather definite. Italian
subjects, indeed a portion of the Ital-
ian army, have seized by force a piece
Of territory whose disposition has
| been in dispute. Clearly, also, the
Jugo- Slavs from whom the territory
has been taken are getting ready for
resistance. DAnnunzio virtually de-
clares a state Of war with Jugo-
| Slavia. Can the United States rem
der any decision in such circum-
stances?
Italy Is appealing to President Will
son to solve the problem. He has
been asked to hasten his decision.
Some of the persons who are observ-
ing the situation closely say the
Fiume coup d'etat has been used to
force the presidents hand
| Wilson UnreIented.
| Mr.. Wilson has answered. He Is un-
| relenting in his views about Fiume.
| But 1t would not become surprising II
| it became known that he had also re-
| fused even to suggest settlement
| while D'Annunzio remained in Fiume,
where by force a section Of the Italian
| army has violated the armistice agree
ment for the patrol of the territory on
| the western coast of the Adriatic.
The presidents central principle that
| there must be discussion before there
| is war has not yet been adopted by the
, league of nations, but Italy has signed
the peace treaty with Germany wherein
| that principle is written and has also
a treaty with the United states requir-
| ing discussion Of a year before military
force is resorted to. But as between
| Jugo- Slavia, new republic. and Italy
there is no agreement. And the peace
| conference at Paris is the only author
| ity which can straighten out the tan
gle.
| May Come Too Late.
| The Italian government fears the
| consequences of D'Annunzio's act and
| fears that any solution proposed may
| come too late. The followers OF the
| poet aviator are numerous and they
| are arguing that possession is nine
points OF the law. But If the doctrine
of the seizure of property is to be al
| lowed while the peace conference talks
the main purpose for which the presl-
| dent fought at Paris will have been
transgressed so cons2icuously as TO
have an adverse effect on the moral
strength of the league of nations II
self. 1t is quite possible that an ad-
iustment satisfactory to the present
! italian government may be reached
| eventually, but the D'Anunzio coup
| dictate cannot be sanctioned by the
United States government. Italy may
| not sign the treaty with Austria or
| the American government or may new
or give its consent to the transfer OF
| the territory to Italy or vice versa.
hut SO far as reaching an adjustment
| while D'Annunzlo remains in Fiume,
] the odds are against any such result.
start Bigger Fires.
Italy officially deplores the D'Annun-
| zio incident at the same time that her
ministers and delegates seek to inn
press the United states government