New-York tribune., 1920-02-29

Atniy &CGSpteU Cno promise, enCeTeu
the war and performed her part OF
the bargain. She therefore feels en-
titled to claim her reward, and,
looked 1t purely as . contractual
obligation, neither France nor Brit
ain has the smallest warrant to de-
cline to carry out the agreement Of
1915.
Other Italian Demands
But when tho matter was raised
at Paris President Wilson firmly op-
posed the performances by Britain
and France Of their contract His
opposition was based upon the solid
foundation that this meant placing
many hundreds Of thousands of
Slavs under Latin rule, depriving
them Of their own nationality, and
also depriving the Slavs Of ths hin
terland Of access to the sea. A more
fragrant break with the fourteen
points was not conceivable.
Meantime the Italians on their
side had formulated other demands,
In their agreement with the British
and the French they had left Jugo-
Slav claims to Fiume unquestioned.
But this concession had aroused
protest in certain Italian quarters
and for reasons Of domestic politics
It became necessary for the ministry
of the hour to advance claims to
Fiume also. These claims were
based upon the fourteen points,
upon the right of self f-determina-
tion. In Paris, therefore, the Italians
claimed Istria and Dalmatia, the
Slav hinterland of Trieste, on the
basis Of the nglo-French bargain,
the Treaty of London Of 1916. But
they claimed Fiume on the basis of
self determination.
Italian Claims
This opened q way for compro-
misc. France and Great Britain had
no wish to oppose President Wilson,
they had no private OF selfish inter
est In advancing i1all, claims. They
were merely bound b. e bargain; il
they could be releasa.: from the bar
gain they would welc..ne the escape.
But If they could not refuse to stand
by the Treaty of London they could
honorably insist that the whole
treaty be enforced, and that, while
Dalmatia was assigned to Italy,
Fiume should be turned over to the
Jugo-Slavs.
To this the italians AZ i'aris could
not consent, because uerely con-
victed them at hon. Of weakness
and insured the fall uf the ministry.
While this debate was still in prog
ress Mr.. Wilson appealed to the
Italian people over the head OF Or
lando, expecting they would see the
injustice Of their position and COM
pei the ministry to abandon it's
stand. Instead, the country rallied
to these claims and the ministry fell,
precisely because it had not made
good the demands.
Italy then withdrew from the
peace conference, but presently re-
sumed participation, while the Adri-
attic solution was postponed. Before
it could be settled d'Annunzio,
scenting weakness in certain official
quarters and receiving encourage
ment In others, made his descent
upon Fiume, seized it, and continues
to hold it. He is thus, in theory,
rebel against Italian authority, but
the government does not dare inter-
fere, because the army and navy
sympathize with him.
Peace in Danger
This Fiume adventure, however,
brought the peace of Europe into
immediate danger. The Serbs, the
Croats, the Slovenes, with strong
military forces, were only deferred
from actually opposing Italian ag-
gression by military operation by
the promise Of the great powers
that they should have justice, ac-
companied by warnings that if they
resorted to arms lney would get
nothing.
Meantime the Italians had re-
course to many devices. They sought
to break up the solidarity of the
Serbs, the Croats and the Slovenes
by intrigue; they endeavored to pre-
vent the union Of Montenegro with
Serbia, using old King Nicholas
as q tool. When the plebisclte in
Montenegro on the union was tax
ing place they endeavored to send
regiment to the Montenegrin capt.
tai, and were prevented only by the
daring intervention Of an American