Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-30

side the conference. Besides making
statements addressed to the sentiment
and will of peoples in general, and,
! therefore, to the Italian people, the full
authority and, therefore, the prestige
of the Italian delegates was doubted
just in the grave and decisive hour when
it was most needed
President Wilson's message prevent
cd us from refusing as well as ac-
cepting any proposal without first ap
pealing to the Italian people and Par
Lament. which alone, and nobobdy else,
arc entitled to pass Judgment on the
conduct and responsibility of the Italian
Government. This, therefore, is my
duty-to ask before this national as
sembly whether the Italian Government
and delegation, acting as they did. were
| faithful interpreters of the thought and
will of Parliament and the country.
Fiume Not in Treaty
The point of view of England and
France can be summed up as follows {:
| They have always recognized, with per
! feet loyalty. the pledge of honor contain =
/ ed in the treaty of alliance between them
and Italy, intending faithfully to re
spcct it, but they have declared that, as
that treaty does not include. and indeed
excludes. Fiume from the Italian claims.
they do not concur with Italy In this
question. They would only admit the
principle of making Fiume an independ-
Cnt free state. on condition, however.
| that this would occur as compromise
and not as an addition to the integral
execution of the conditions of the
treaty.
ct only remains for me to further
expound the Italian viewpoint. Italy
firmly believes. before ALL that her as
pirationS, as I set them forth in my
answer to President Wilson's message.
are founded on such high and solemn
reasons of justice and right that they
should be ntegrally accepted, even put
ting aside any international treaty or
agreement. ] need not repeat the rca
sons of historic right and national soil
darity which are engraved in the heart
of every Italian so that they become au
absolute part Of our nature.
Il wish. however. to repeat a simple
! fact. to wit That if all ltaly'S aspira.
tions were accepted in their entirely
=
population. n number of inhabitants in
fprior to those assigned to other states
! as a CONSEQUENCE of the war. There
! fore, tho accusation of entertaining i'm
perialistic sentiments gricvPs and Of
! fcnds us. This nation, which certainly
has given no proofs of cupdity in dis
cussing the billions requested for rep
arations and which has shown no eX-
cessivc signs of emotion ono way or
| anothpr. even when vast and rich ter
ritories had to be distributed in Africa
and Asia among bPlligcrents and which
has demonstrated that she prefers sen
timent to utility until her attitude was
| a fault. has given the highest proof
that she was fighting for her sacred
rights.
"Friendship Becomes Fellowship"
Italy did not measure her sacrifices
by the letter of her treaty with the
Allied powers. and did not ask for help
when she had to withstand the shock
of the Austrian army, as she might
have done under the treaty. Therein.
she only did her duty as the Allies have
DONE but that fact transformed friend
ship into blood fellowship. and it was
in that sense that Italy appealed to the
Allied peoples and governments.
"Thc question of Fiume was not first
brought forward by Italy, but by a
thrilling act of spontaneous will, which
began with the declaration of Fumes
representative in the Hungarian Parlia-
ment. and which was subsequently con-
firmed when Fiume proclaimed herself
an Italian town.
Can our great nation remain inert
and unmoved by the vehement and de-
spairing appeal of this people. whose
blood is of our blood? No. Italy does