Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-14
FAILS TO CONVINCE
PRESIDENT WILSON
Reported Signor Orlando Is:
efets7
DispIeased With Attitude on
DaImatian Coast Issue.
DEMANDS MADE BY ITALY
By JOHN r. BASS.

SaDfcEram to Ihe Evening Star ana the
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1919.
PARIS. France. January 13.-Peo-
pie in close relation with the Italian
prime minister tell me that Signor
Orlando was not pleased with his
conference with President Wilson
last Friday. Orlando is reported rs
saying that Mr.. Wilson was better
informed on the Italian situation
than he supposed: also, that IT:
Wilson was very arm in his attitude
and refused to recognize the clEims
Of tally beyond Trieste and Trent
1t is known that Baron Sonnfne,
the italian minister of foreign affairs.
is insistent in demanding for italy
not only Trieste and Trente. but also
the more important part Of the DAT
matian coast and Fiume. Orlando on
the other hand would gladly cede the
Dalmatian coast in exchange for
Fiume After his interview Orlando
cede Fiume. s-tt -.
Slavs Predominant on Coast.
The great majority of the people
on the Dalmatian coast are Slavs. air
though few towns, like lara, have
a majority of Italians. In Fiume. on
the other hand, the majority Of the
population are Italians, while the
neighboring towns and country are
Siav. Orlando is reported as saying
that Mr.. Wilson announced that the
principles to guide the peace confer
ence were the principle of nationality
and the principle Of the commercial
needs of the nation. The natural outlet
to the seas for the people of Austria
was Fiume. He Claimed that few
thousand Italians in Fiurne could NOT
be balanced against the urgent need.
for an outlet to the sea OF Infiltons
of Slavs In fact. the commercial
necessity of the confederation OF
Slavs in Austria and the Balkans de-
mands this outlet to the Adriatic- IL
Italy ignored this necessity she
populations and create danger TO the
continued peace of Europe.
1t is supposed that Mr.. Wilson does
not consider that Ftume as tree
port in Italian hands would meet the
needs of the Slav hinterland- Tne
pocket in the midst of the Slav popu-
lation is further argument.
Would Handicap Slav Commerce.
The proposition to limit the ports
of the Jugo-Slav states to the Dali
NATHAN coast would handicap Slav
commerce by pro1onging railroad
transportation over a difhcult noun
famous country. 1t is evident that
| Mr.. Wilson in taking this position
does not place much Importance upon
the so-called strategic needs Of The
! different countries as a principle Of
! the peace conference. =
II the Jugo-Slav hold the DaiDa-
! tian coast and Fiume they viii haye
strategic control of the Adriatic, since
| islands are the only protected bar
! bors and bays of the Adriatic. The
possession of Pola, between Trieste
and Fiume. by the Italians gives her
| only a strong naval base.
French Demand Is Different.
The demand Of France for the neu-
tralization of the left bank OF the
Rhine against future German aggres-
sion stands momentarfly on different
ground than the strategic demands of
other nations. Nevertheless, IL q
strong, virile Slav confederation de-
velops out of the Austrian Balkan
situation. it would, through the pos
session of the Dalrnatian coast. h4Ys
the means of creating a powerful
navy and controlling the Adri&tir.
For this reason 1t is supposed tAah
Mr.. Wilson intends to substitutes TOR
the strategic needs of the nations .
league of nations sufficiently stronE
to guarantee peace. For France such
| a guarantee would mean the army OF
the league of nations and for Italy
the navy of the league OF nations.