The Washington herald., 1920-12-07
Art and the Adriatic

ENI the star OF the dictator of Fiume The Adri-
- attic is about to surrender to art one whom
1t can well, and art i'll, afford to lose The
world is already Ovcrstocked with bellicose gen.
tIencn who court favor and stir up trouble by
their cxtravagant nationasm, but in the ranks of
hrst-class poets there is always for one
moro.
Ii Is only human however, that D'Annunzio
should be reluctant to resign the limelight in which
he has moved for SO long for the comparative OBJ
scurity which Is the lot OF the most excel
lent OF poets. Nevertheless is long but life is
short, and it appears that the Italians have ar
nved at the point where they would prefer to have
the warlike poet celebrate the greatness of their
country in verse rather than jeopardize it by his
spectacular operations IN the Adriatic. The world
will approve OF this decision of the Italians
That the Italian government has sent an army
under Gen. Caviglia to force the regency of Fiume
TO observe the conditions of the treaty of Rap
allo is significant OF the weakening influence of the
violently nationalistic Italians whose support has
in the past prevented force being used to make
D'Annunzio observe the international engagements
which Italy has made in the Adriatc.
In spite OF comments in the Italian press to
the effect that Italy has sacrificed much for the es-
tablishmcn of peace in the Adriatic the great ma
jority OF Italians must realize that it is they who
have made good bargain by the Rapaiio treaty
chief sacrifice in the interests of peace
While Fiumc is theoretically independent it
will be under Italian influence and will eventually
become a part OF Italy. At the present time this
c'ty is the only outlet for the whole Jugo-Slav
kIUEdom and even after Spalato and Cattaro have
become available it will be the only practicable
port for Slovenia and Western Croatia
The Italians have also secured the rich min
ing district north of Trieste and are assured of the
roI oft tt,e of L. I. =.
therefore, only the duty of Italy to see to it
that neither D'Annunzio any one else inter
icrcS with the ull execution of the treaty, but it is
manifcstly to her advantage that Jugo-Slavs be
given no occasion for reopcnng the question
through the ndiscretions OF irresponsible national
ss,s Cordial relations and friendly understanding
essential politically and economically to both
italy and Jugo-Slavia.
The precedent established by DAnnunzio in
Fiumc has not been helpful in bringing about a
peaceful settlement in other where conflict
ing claims OF various nationates have arisen.
Gen Zclgouski took a leaf from DAnnunzio's
book when he seized Wilma and set up govern
mcnt which ne justified by the claim that the
Jority of the population of the Polish in
sympsthics rather than Lithuanian A
iorce of Jugo-Slavs adopted similar tactics in the
plcbiscte Of Southern Carinthis in spite of
The fact that the plebiscite resulted in clear vic
tory Tor Austria.
During the period OF disorder and confusion
OF the past two years when nations have been in
the throes OF social and economic readjustmcnt or
have been struggling to become established in
dependent states this sort of international outlawry
has been possible and the governments whom
the responsibility might logically have been placed
have been able to evade their accountability. 1t
would seem that this time has passed and with the
settlement OF its Adristic problem by Italy there
should begin the when all nations be held
strictly accountable the world for the rredentise
cxtravagancies of their nationals.
In his last letter to the Italian government
D'Annunzio, referring to the activity against him,
declares 81 shall allow myself to be slain with
tranquil contempt, without envying the survivors,"
1t is to be hoped that he won't go that far The
peace Of the Adriatic may be gained by less heroic
means and the world cannot well afford to lose
one whose spectacular exploits and brilliant verse
have so contributed to its entertainment