Evening star., 1920-11-14

| ~ ARADOXICAL as it may seem
- the long standing. dangerous
and exceedingly perpleXins
Adriatic situation has been
solved and it has not been solved.
The Italian and Jugoslav govern
ments have reached agreement on the
issue. But another factor and an i'm
portant one is D'Annunzio. Another is
the United States. Though govern
ments may have agreed to settlement
which may not be entirely satisfac-
tory to Jugoslavia, but wholly so to
Italy, the attitude of the soldier-poet,
who presides over the destiries OF
Fiume. and that Of the American gov
ernment offer basis for conjecture.
Under the terms Of settlement ar
ranged after lengthy and somewhat
heated debates between Count Sforza,
foreign minister of Italy. and Pre-
mier vesnitch and Foreign Minister
Trumbitch of Jugoslavia. Italy re-
ceives practically her entire demand
that the eastern frontier of Italy
stretch along the peaks of the Julian
Alps, the line of occupation on ar
mistice day. There are but small va
riations in the line, which incidental
IL is tactitiy that provided for in the
treaty Of London. The whole of Istria.
with its important ports of Pola and
Trieste. will go outright to Italy, while
Ffume remains to all intents and pur-
poses independent. By this very set
clement the railroad center OF st.
Peter, eQuidistant from Fiume and
Trieste, comes under Italian control.
wm Hold Outlets.
AS Italy viii have contiguous ter
ritory with Ffume, she will hold the
chief outlets for practically all of
those countries lying to the north and
east in Europe. such as Czechosio-
valia, Rumania, Poland. Austria and
Hungary. The Adriatic is the logical
outlet for these countries and Italy
undoubtedly will prosper as she has
never prospered before commercially.
In addition, a great portion of the
products of Jugoslavia will pass
through the port Of Fiume. Under the
agreement, the port of Sussak, which
Jugoslavia,- will hold will be devel-
oped along with that Of the greater
port OF Ffume. The Italians get the
islands Of the Quarnero Cherso and
Veglia and minor bits of land dotting
tho Adriatic, which will be used for
strategical purposes, but surrenders
practically the whole Of the coast
line Of Dalmatia with the exception Of
lara. Economic and commercial
agreements permit the free use of
this port while it Is incumbent upon
the Jugaslavs to develop number
i.of potentially great ports. one Of these
being Buccari, which Napoleon claim
ed to be one OF the greatest outleu'
In all southeastern Europe.
But as this settlement, which does
not give to Italian domination the
whole OF Dalmatia ignores the future
Of Montenegro and does not provide
for Italian domination of Albania
sistance not only to his government
but to the Jugoslavs as we'll.
D'Annunzio Determined.
Just a year ago I sat with the
doughty commander Of Ffume in the
palace overlooking the sleeping
Quarnero and discussed the future
with him. Then all was uncertain.
!DAnnunzio faced an irate govern
ment in Rome, an angered American
President and possible edict from Eu-
ropean allied powers that he and his
faithful arditi, and other troops, quit
, the city on penalty of determination.
When asked as to his possible course
he silently pointed to his motto en-
blazoned in great letters on a banner
cidentally. was plastered over the
whole city Of Fiume-"Italia o
Morte''
There could be no mistake but that
he meant that and nothing more. This
poet, thoroughly courageous and de-
flying the then scorning worlds bitter
denunciations. announced that Italy
must have Ffume. Dalmatia was
Italy's heritage. he said. Italy must
dominate the Adriatic beyond all
question. Ita1y's national ideals must
reign supreme forever. and those
the treaty of London but in the ad-
ditional acquisition of Fiume. 1t was
the glory of Italy that this poet then
talked OF. and that her heritage migh'
be the greatest in the history of the
nation he was ready to die, eager to
die and carry with him the lives OF
the 10000 troops who. in their pa
triotic fervor, followed him into the
| CITY. Great warships lay in the mar
Dor with their guns pointing land
ward and toward the bay ready foi
expected attacks. Every day saw ne"
pledges of fealty from his troops
| Pledges to Death.
dAnnunzio's perfervid pledges thai
= Fiume would never be forsaken
would never. fall to the hands of any
other but Italy. and then witnessed
thousands upon thousands OF well
armed, we'll equipped soldiers hle by
and give their pledge in thrilling
shouts, Italia AIorte." there could
| be no question of the earnestness OF
this man and his followers
| In the year that has elapsed there
has been no weakening in dAnnunzio'i
\ stand. But there has been weakening
4 hi
italy. Peoples of that country be.
| lieved he saved Italy's aspirations
when Orlando, Sonnino and others
would have sacrificed them for "s
mess Of allied pottage." Soon dan
| nunzio's coup was looked upon a
fait accompli by England and France
and this gave the poet greater cour.