Evening star., 1919-03-23
Italy and the Peace Congress.

Italy occupies a peculiar position
with regard to Fiume and the Dalma-
tian coast, which has now developed
to the point of DECISION to withdraw
from the peace conference unless pos
session Of the former is granted. By
the -so-caHed secret treaty Of London,
signed April 26, 1915, Italy agreed
to enter the war on the side of the
allies and was promised by England,
Russia and France possession Of GER
tain territories Of Austro-Hungary in
the event of allied victory. AS to most
Of these territories there has since
been not the slightest dispute. They
have been recognized as definitely
-1talian in point Of geography and his
tory and ethnology, comprising the
~irredenta" to which Italy has aspired
for. many years. Immediately upon
the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian
power, however, the Jugoslavic peoples
SET up claims to the southern portions
at the area granted" to, Italy by the
Treaty of London, particularly the
coast of Dalmatia.
Under the treaty of London Italy
has no claim to Fiume, which is by
that instrument explicitly allotted to
Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, to-
gether with the whole coast belonging
in 1915 to Hungary and the whole
coast of Croatia, with certain islands
Thus Italy is not at this time resting
ker case as to the eastern Adriatic
shore upon the treaty of 1915, for by
itoshe would be excluded from that
which she ardently desires, the port
eE-Fiume and control Of the shores
Immediately to the south and some Of
the islands which in part command the
approach.
Under the principle Of "self-deter-
mination Of peoples" however, Italy
new makes claim upon Fiume and
other portions of the eastern Adriatic
region. Fiume is mainly Italian in
population, as are also certain other
cities Of the coast. But there is also
astrong counter claim on the part Of
the Jugoslavs for the Dalmatiau coast
OF the same ground. Their claim to
Finme is chiefly economic. They great
II speed that port, not because it is an
excellent harbor, one Of the best in
the near east, but because Of the rail
lines by which it is reached. To the
south are other good harbors, but with
practically no communications with
the .hinterland, which lies to the east
Of high hills, difficult for engineering
works.
Italy with Trieste and without
Fidne would be at q serious disadvan-
tage, for the latter would probably
gain the major part of the trade flow
ing. ont Of the Balkans to the sea,
owing to prejudice against the Italian
port. Neither of these ports would
Be Of any direct value to Italy in the
handling Of her own trade, save that
yasea from the west coast Of the
peninsula. Possession of both Of them
would give her control of the Adriatic
trade, and possession of the Albanian
"bidgehead" at and behind Avlona
would give her military control Of
fha. sea.
n the treaty of London fails to
grant Fiume to Italy ana does grant
Dalmatia, and If the principle Of self
determination grants Fiume to Italy
and fails to grant her Dalmatia, there
ID ground for adjustment. Italy can
gain that which Is Of chief importance
to- her without infringing upon the
positive and established rights of her
beighbors. That she will leave the
peace conference upon an issue so sus-
ceptible Of settlement without loss Of
honor and prestige and future advan-
tags Is not to be believed.