Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-06-09
AMERICANS
CARE LITTLE
ABOUT F|UME.
Wilson's S Protest Instiga-
ted by British and
French.
Italy Requires Recon-
pense for Her Excep-
tional Sacrifices.
BY ARTHUR &. MANN.
Chicago Tribune Gable. Copyrigh

Ihicago Tribune Gable. Copyright
Rome, June Z via Paris. June s.
Most American people don't know any
thing about Fiume; the rest don't give
a damn
This is pot the rawlings of an anti
American Italian, but what American
congressman who arrive In Paris shortly
after the publication of President Viii
sons Flume proclamation are reported
10 have told one of the American peace
commissioners.
This also is what the Italian people
believe. and In connection with such an
attitude they cannot understand the great
amount of what they say is misplaced
Jugo Slav sympathy in the United States
There has been far too much ideallzation
Of the JugoSiav. they tell you here,
However. some Italians who have been
studying the plan reported from Pa.is to
make Fiume an independent city are be-
ginning to send a ray of light into the
darkness of the conference opposition.
If the present plan of governing the city
is carried out they explain, then in the
council Of two Italians, one Fiumean. one
Hungarian. and one .Jugo -Slav. the Ital-
ians are sure to have a perpetual major
ity. for the Fiumeai. members are certain
always to vote with the Italians and most
probably the Hungarians also. Such a
situation would probably save the port
Of Trieste from any cut throat competi-
ton from Fiume. which is what the 1tal-
ians have been fearing if the latter city
is made A free port or given to the
Iugo-Siavs.
These same Italians. however. are not
very keen on alleged compensation for
the loss of Fiume by substitution of a
mandate over Albania. This, they de-
clare. will cost the government millions
year for administration for which out
lay viii be little return. And they ara
not particularly anxious to assume re
sponsbiIiry for the good behavior of the
Albanian natives. They tell the story
of the Chicago representative from a big
electrical construction company who went
into business prospecting in Albania dur
ing the reign of the German Prince Will
liam of Wied When he returned to Rome
and was asked what three things Albania
most needed he replied: "Jails with
schools, jails with baths-and then more
iails'
Since the first mad days here after
President Wilson'S Fiume note was pub
liahed there has been a tendency for
thinking people to get truer persrec-
tive of just what was behind the issu-
ance of the documents. Those here who
really study the doings of the peace con-
note had the support of the British and
French at Paris. altho unfortunately from
the American standpoint it was signed
only by Mr. Wilson. 1t has been limited
To me here ls was even French lnflu-
ence which led to the publication OF the
note at the time it appeared. In fact.
some Italians are becoming bit anxious
at what they seem to feel is strong
French opposition to their aims.
A Il, r. hIxy ,y,fI ot1I md
ious politics is kind America and Amer
Franco Italian competition in the Medit
terranean and elsewhere cropping UP
again.
These same Italians believe the ,Iugo-
Slav propaganda was largely supported
by the French, who, they say, desire to
build up strong Juge-Slav state down to
the eastern shore of the Adriatic in order
to clip the growing power Of Italy. But
you hear SO many rumors, charges. and
counter charges these days of peace
making it is difficult to do more than
pass some Of them on without attempt
ing to pass judgment on their merits.
1t appears more certain every day.
however. that Italy, with the exception Of
the enemy powers, is going to be among
the least satisfied with the terms of set
tiement unless there is radical change
in the treatment she is getting at Paris
This war for her was to be the final
one for realizing to the full her program
Of national reunion. which has been up
permost tn the minds Of the people since
the birth of modern Italy. Now she
feels this peace is going to leave her
short Of such realization
She also fells this is patty due to the
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