Evening star., 1919-04-30
Memorandum on His Stand
as of April IA Is Pub
Iished in Rome.
SEEKS TO AVOID ERROR


Italian claims on the Adriatic," fol-
lows:
There is no question to which
have. given more careful or anxious
thought than I have given to this. be-
cause in common with all my col
leagues it 10 my earnest desire 10 see
the utmost Justice done to Italy.
Throughout my consideration OF It,
however, I have felt that there was
one matter in which 1 had no choice
and could wish to have none. l felt
bound to square every conclusion that
I should reach as accurately as pos
sible with the fourteen principles OF
peace which I set forth In my address
to the Congress Of the United states
on the Sth Of January, 1918, and In
subsequent addresses.
Only One Basis for Peace.
'These. fourteen points and the prin-
ciples laid down in the subsequent ad-
dresses were formally adopted with
only a single reservation by the pow
ers associated against Germany and
will c>nstitute the basis of peace with
Germany. I do not feel at liberty to
suggest one basis for peace with
Germany and another for peace with
Austria.
''It will be remembered that in re-
ply to a communication from the Aus
trian government Offering to enter
into NEGOTIATIONS for an arm1stlce ana
peace on the basis of the fourteen
points to which I have alluded I said
that there was one matter to Wnlcn
those points no longer applied. Ihey
had demanded autonomy Tor the sew
eral states which had constituted parts
of the Austro-Hungarian empire, ana
I pointed out that it must now ne
left to the choice Of the people OF
destinies and political relations snouio
"They have chosen, with the SYM
pathy Of the whole world, to be set
up as independent states. Thelr com
plete separation from Austria and the
Hungarian empire has given a new
aspect and significance to the settle
ments, which may be effected with
regard, at any rate, to the eastern
boundaries Of italy.
personally I am quite willing that
whole front Of her northern frontier
and wherever she comes into contact
with Austrian territory all that was
accorded her in the so-called pact OF
London, but am, of the clear opinion
that the pact of London can no longer
apply 10 the SeltiehoAs VI "eA
boundaries.
"The line drawn in the pact Of Lon
don conceived for the purpose OF es-
tablishing an absolutely adequate
frontier Of safety for Italy against
any possible hostility or aggression
on the part of Austria.
Non-Existent Dual Empire.
But Austria Hungary no longer ex-
lists. These eastern frontiers VIII
touch countries stripped of the mill
tary and naval power OF Austria set
tied in independence OF Austria ana
organized for the purpose OF satisfy
ing legitimate national aspirations
ana created states not hostile to the
new European order, but arising out
Of IT. interested in its maintenance,
dependent upon the cultivation OF
friendships and bound to>a common
policy Of peace and accommoaatlon Dy
the covenant Of the league OF nations.
att is with these facts in mind that
I have approached the Adriatic ques-
ton. It is commonly agreed and 1 very
heartily adhere to the argreement
that the ports Of Treaste and Pola, and
with them the greater part OF the
Istrian peninsula should be ceded to
Italy, her eastern frontier running
along the natural strategic line es-
tablished by the physical conforma.
ton Of the country line which 1t
has heen attempted to draw with some
degree Of accuracy on the attached
map.
"Within this line on the italian side
will He considerable bodies of nom
Italian populations, but their fortunes
are 80 naturally linked by the nature
Of the country itself with the rest OF
the Italian people that think their
inclusion is fully justified.
Fiume Not italian Port.
'srhere would be no justification. in
INV Judgment. in including F1ume or
anv part Of the coast line to the south
Of Fiume, within the boundaries of
the italian kingdom. Ffume Is. by
situation and by all the circumstances
Of its development. not an Italian. but
an international port serving the
countries to the east and north of
the gulf of Fiume.
Gust because 1t is an international
port and cannot with justice be sub
ordinated to any one sovereignty IT
is my clear judgment that 1t snould
enjoy a very considerable degree OF
genuine autonomy ana sa,,hs Wn,Ie .s.n,,. IL
the customs system of the new Jugo-
slavic state 1t should nevertheless be
ieft free. in its own interest and in
the interest Of the states lying about
it. to devste itself to the service OF
the commerce which naturally and
Inevitably seeks an outlet or inlet at
..rhe states which it serves will be
new states. They will have complete
confidence in their access to an outlet
on the sea. The friendship and the
connections Of the future will large
iy depend upon such an agreement
a. I have suggested, and friendship,
cooperation and freedom of action
must underlie every arrangement OF
peace il peace 10 to be lasting.
As to Disarmament.
'I believe there will be common
aRreement that the Island of Lissa
should be ceded to Italy and that she
believe that it will be generally
agreed that the fortihcations which
the Austrian government established
upon the islands near the eastern
coast of the Adriatic should be per-
ternational guarantee and that the
disarmament which is to be arranged
under the league of nations should
limit the states on the eastern coast
OF the Adriatic to only such minor
naval forces as are necessary for
and the coast. These are conclusions
which / am forced to by compulsion
of the understandings which underlie
the whole initiation of the present
peace.
"No other conclusions seem to be ac-
ceptable to being rendered concise
with these understandings. They were
understandings accepted by the whole
world and bear with peculiar compul-
sion upon the United States because
| the privilege was accorded her of
| taking the initiative of bringing