Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-08
AUSPICIOUS IMPORT OF
WILSON'S ITALIAN TRIP
indications That 1t Will Help to Clarity
the Ticklish Adriatic Problems Are
Already Manifested

49,
L President Wilson's visit to Italy will
prove one of the most fruitful chapters
of his official European travels.
Regarding French and British peace
complexities, American opinion is forth
fed with familiar salient facts. Sea
rights, as Britannia views them, are a
theme with which our craftsmanship has
been intimately concerned for more than
a century. Both nations have been
guilty of inconsistencies, shifted their
positions and altered their interpreted
tions of the question, but there has sell
dom been a time when the best public
opinion in both countries was recipro-
cally unintelligible.
French aims since 1870 have been
equally clear. The simplicity of the
Alsace-Lorraine problem has long been
refreshingly in contrast to the plethora
of continental tangles, of which new de-
v~elopments are continually manifested.
On the restoration of the stolen provinces
to the republic, American sentiment lis
absolutely united. The further expan-
sio.. of France to the Rhine raises doubts
in the hearts of "self-determinists," but
at least the subject is one whose geo.
graphic and ethnic factors may Ge fairly
easily grasped.
In their appeal to outsiders Greater
ltaly's' aims are altogether of another
complexion. Americans passionately de-
.s,a,,. %haN ;a,,,,;4so. el,11 ,,AA ,t,,, tka
peace settlement have regarded the ex-
pansionist attitude of Rome with suspi-
cion. This feeling has been stimulated
by the evidences of division in Italian
opinion, lately exemplifed in the pro-
tests of Signor Bissolati. 1t is known,
moreover, that Italy was a party to the
secret pact of London in which she was
promised very material additions to her
realm. Seemingly, the situation has had
sinister aspects, a SAVIOR of jugglery and
rash aggression. Exponents of justice
and fair dealing have not relished it.
And yet many a sincere lover of lib
erty would today be at a loss to define
where justice in the Italian claims holds
sway anu "ntTt IL cluS Inc IHITuSlOu
of Dalmatia into the news is of such
comparatively recent date that superb
cial statements concerning it are often
inconsiderately accepted. Jugo-Slavia
presents its claim, and because that still
amorphous region has been long op-
pressed and is struggling to acquire
national entity it is naturally a recipient
of popular sympathy. Counter-charges
by Italy are sometimes discountenanced
because human instincts incline toward
the under dog.
The weakness of these verdicts lies in
the fact that they are based chiefly on
sentiment, not buttressed by information.
1t is perfectly possible for a persuasive
propaganda dealing with a subject with
which the average non-ltalian or non
Croatian is very imperfectly acquainted
to win adherents for either side of the
controversy.
1t is obvious, therefore, how impera-
tive was the need of the Presidents
journey to the Italian cities. That even
a statesman Of Mr.. Wilson's acumen was
enabled amid Kaleidoscope scenes and
rapturous festival fully to master SO
difficult a problem is, of course, incon-
ceivable. but certainly he gained excep.
tional opportunities for clearing the at,
mosphero, Personal contact with a crisis
is worth a whole library of reference
books.
Both the Italian imperialist press ant
its opponents have been outspoker
during the visit. 1t is reported that t
the Italian popular mind-a mind, be i
recalled, that has been inspired to en-
thusiasm for nearly four years with tn,
"lrredentist" ideal-therc is no issue be
tween the Presidents policy and Italy
ambitions. This can mean one of thre
things, two of which may be stamped a
highly improbable.
1t is all but un~thinkable that Mr.. vii
son has betrayed his announced aims t
the extent of subscribing to what woul
be a policy of unjust and selfish Italia
aggression. 1t is equally unlikely tina
all Italian hopes of an enlarged natio
have been suddenly dispelled by tn
presidential eloquence. But it is entirel
conceivable that some adjustment of il
tentions, susceptible, of course. of amend
ment, has been made. Inclination to
course of this sort will vastly affect tn
amenities of the Peace Conference.
Doubtless it will be there demon
strated, as it can be with statistic,
accuracy, that Trieste is a city thre,
fourths Italian in population, that tia
ians are the most numerous race
Fiume and in many of the Adriat
islands. Some other contentious cam
be so authoritatively made. Such info,
nation as crosses the ocean but feebI
supports the Italian claims to the grou
of thirteen Greek islands occupied durin
the Lybian wal and never relinquished