Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-23
D'ANNUNz|O'S RULE
HARMFU TO F|UME
His Rival for Leadership Says
People Are Hungry, Italy
\ Embarrassed
POET FEARS ASSASSINATION
BY the Associated Press

Eiume, Jan 23.-Captain Gabrielle
d'Annunzio's control or this city has
been disastrous to the people. who have
little food and are suffering from epi-
denies, according to Riccardo Lanella.
opponent of d dAnnunzio and leader of
the Fiuman peoples party.
He says the poet soldier is afraid of
assassination, and is constantly under
guard, and that his action in seizing the
CITY has resulted in international en-
barrassment for Italy.
Signor Zanella says President Will
sons program by which the future
status of Fiume is to be fixed is not ac
ceptable 20 the people of the city. add
ing that Fiume which is not important
to Jugo- Slavia, which has a better port
at SpalatO. must be Italian.
Captain D'Annunzio has violated
every principle of free government
says Signor Xanelles. who was formerly
mayor of the city. He has lodged his
legions on our people, has troubled the
city for months and has cOmmandeered
property under threats of violepce. The
people are sick of his regime. There is
little food and much disease and suffer
ing. while our financial situation is ap
palling. Ninety per cent of the citizens
are calling for d AnnunziO and his men
TO leave.
Fearing for his life. D'Annunzio
does not sleep in the same place two
nights in succession and is at all times
guarded by Arditi. | do not believe he
will be able to remain in Fiume longer
than a month. One brigade of soldiers
would be sufficient to eXrel him and his
troops. He has lost Fiume and has
embarrassed Italy. which will be called
upon for damages amounting into the
millions.
'Fiume accepted General Badoglio' :
proposals as to the control of the city.
but D'Annunzio refused to abide by
this decision. | am in favor of anneXa-
tion to Italy. but that seems impossible
and so I am for the next best thing.
which seems to be the plan advanced
by Foreign Minister Tittoni at Paris.
We cannot accept President Wilson S
plan. for we are surrounded by Slavs.
We must retain our Italian character
and civilization, which are threatened.
The Jugo- Slavs have other ports such
as Spalato. which are more important
to them than Fiume. and they could
give way in the negotiations now going
Oh. Fiume is not a commercial prop
osition; it is a question of the reten
ton of our Italian civilization
Rome. Jan. 23.-Premier Nitti was
received by King Victor Emmanuel to
day following the formers return from
Paris and later the premier presided al
a meeting of the council of ministers.
Italy may overcome the handicap
placed upon her by the wreck of her
colonial aspirations in the Peace Con
ference by cooperating with Latin
countries. says Marquis Solari. in an
article published in the Messagero
1--WE must frankly recognize that the
Italian colonial program has entirely
failed as result of the Peace Confer
ence.'' he declares This is an injus-
tice which Italy may correct with d
broad program of economic expansion
abroad in close union with the Latir
countries of Spain. Portugal, Rumanit
and the nations of Central and Soutl
America"