The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-10
JUGO-SLAVS ASK AID
! IN ADRIATIC CRISIS
Hope Q. s. Will Fight Secret
Treaty Giving Part Of Ter
ritory to Italy.
PROPAGANDA EXPLAINED
Committee Says Rome Has Oc-
cupied More Land Than
Compact Called For.
speeini Dtannfch 10 THK SuN.

Special Despatch TO TAE Sun.
WASHINGTON, March s.--Although
Italy has yielded to the request made by
the United States that she at once raise
the food blockade she had established
against the kingdom OF the Serbs. Croats
and slovenes, the whole situation on tire
Adriatic is regarded In Jugo-Slav circles
here as intolerabIe. Effort will be made
10 have the Peace Conference take the
matter UP with a view to decisive action.
The Jugo-Slav viewpoint is expressed
in a statement made public tonight as
follows:
This situation ought never TO have
been allowed to come Into existence. On
the publication months ago by the Boil
shevih of the secret archives of the Rus
sian Foreign Officd the text Of the secret
treaty OF London signed in April, 1918
became known and with It the claims of
Italy to Jueo-Slav Territory. These
claims were regarded as excessive and
unjustihed by the Serbian Government
(Which then officially represented Jugo-
Slav interests), and It at once lodged an
energetic protest against them.
Under these circumstances tho En-
tente Powers were thoroughly aware of
the scope and extent OF the differences
between tally and the Jugo-Slavs. When
therefore the collapse of Austria came
the most common prudence to avoid
clash between the opposing interests re-
quired that the territory in dispute
should be occupied by French. British
or American troops in order 10 hold the
balance level between the two claimants.
Jtaly's Appetite Increases.
This was not done and Italy was
allowed TO occupy much OF the territory
she claimed. She then proved the truth
OF the French saying that appetite
comes with eating by proceeding to
exercise influence even beyond the ter
ritory che claimed under the treaty OF
London.
Thus Spalato. where there has Just
been a clash between Italians and Jugo-
Slavs, was not originally claimed by
Italy and 10 not included In the secret
treaty, and yet an italian Admiral lands
in Spalato with the object, it is stated.
OF delivering an address to the italian
section OF the population. That this
was regarded as a provocation in a
Jugo-Slav town is only natural. The
result was regrettable incidents, which
, called for the Intervention Of American
troops TO maintain order.
"The Government OF the new kingdom
If Serbs, Croats and Slovenes has Of
fered TO submit the dispute with Italy
to arbitration. This italy refused. By
the secret treaty of London Of April.
1915, she obtained the consent of Great
Britain and France to her annexation
Of large amount of Jugo-Slav terri
tory. Having thus the consent Of two
Powers out OF Ave to her claims all
she requires to enforce them Is to win
over Japan and the United States.
49,. . ltur a. ~ N6
arrive at an arrangement with Japan
The only unknswn quantity in the solu-
ton OF the problem Is the attitude OF
the United States That Power, not
being a party to the secret treaty OF
London, is not bound by 1t and can
ask as a preliminary to all discussion
that it be a priori' eliminated.
wouId Release France and Britain
cas- this concession would at once
free the hands Of France and Great Brit
ain (who to-day, It is notorious. bit
terly reret the engagements they en-
tered into IN 1915 when they had an in
sufficient knowledge of all the factors OF
the Balkan problem), Il is naturally OPP
posed by italy. This explains the food
Of Italian propaganda which has been
let loose over the whole Of the United
States and the arrival OF one mission
after another to lay the Italian view be.
fore the American public.
ITALY sees that the decision at Paris
~ in the hands OF the American delega-
ton and is leaving no stone unturned
10 create a current OF public opinion
favorable to Italian claims in the hope
that this IN It's turn may have its effect
on the delegation.
THE means at the disposal of the
kingdom OF the Serbs, Croats and Slo-
vsnes do not allow the carrying on OF a
propaganda on such a scale 1t prefers
TO base its claims on the justice of its
cause and to rely on the conscience OF
the civilized world to see that 1t obtains
a fair deal. This hope is based on the
principle OF self-determination OF peo
pie, a principle first laid down by Pres.
ident Wilson, and since adopted as basic
by all the parties to the Peace Confer.
snce."