The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
ADRIATIC AN
! ITALIAN LAKE
AIM OF POET
D'AnnunziO's Ambition as
Viewed Through an Eng
lishman's Eyes.
a. f.
A FAR REACHING VISION
Sees Fiume and Trieste the
Gateways Tor Economic
Penetration.
A FAR REACHING VISION

LONDON. Nov. l3-The settlement OF the
Adriatic problem and the recognition OF
the independence of Fiume. by the treaty
of santo Margherita. lends interest to a
study of d. Annunzio and mis- ambition to
extend tall n supremacy over the Adri-
attic. made by correspondent OF the
London Times Writing from Fiume
about the middle of October, he said:
Gabrielle DAnnunzio is a sort of mod
ern Cyrano de Bergerac with little
more talent and little less sense. The
author Of the Journey to the Moon
lived in extravagant days. when fair
ladies and poetic ideals were the things
for which men fought. But D'Annunzio
as l. took occasion to tell him-has
abandoned women and song for Arditi
and politics.
"Higher politics." was the only correc-
ton he smilngly made. and perhaps he
was right. For. however much one may
condemn his methods and abhor his
aims, there is no denying the far-reach-
ing political effect of his words and
deeds. He would be negligible factor
were 1t not that, as far as Italy is con-
cerned, ne has lifted the Adriatic ques-
ton out of the sphere OF diplomatic COM
promise and deluded his fellow country
men into believing that the spoliation OF
Jugo-Slavia is a matter OF national
honor and of vital interest The Italian
Government Is really powerless. because
D'Annunzio, having given new voice to
Latin aspiration, has so swayed the emo
lions Of one Of the most emotional OF
peoples that reason is dethroned and
liberty and justice--for which the war
was fought-are fouted.
Let us see what 1t Is that D'Annunzio
wants and why he wants it--for Fiume
is merely the nail on which he hangs the
alluring picture Of an Italian imperiar.
Ism. First, in order to obtain complete
Adriatic supremacy he seeks to extend
the eastern frontier Of italy so as to in.
clude not only the whole Of Gorilla,
Gradisca and Istria, but considerable
portions Of Carniola and Croatia. to-
Rether with the islands Of the Quarnero
(Veglia and Cherso). He wishes Italy
to retain Dalmatia and the islands Of the
eastern coast, and some form Of political
suzerainty over q nominally independent
Albania and Montenegro. This would
leave Italy in control not only of Trieste
and Fiume. but of lara, Sch n'co, Spa
lat,o Cattaro and all the other ports of
the Adriatic. Jugo-Slavia would be vir-
tually cut off from the sea and reduced
to economic dependence upon Italy.
D'Annunzios whole programme may
be summed up In few words the ag-
grandizement of Italy and the abasement
Of Jugo-Slavia. The latter. he believes
will be insured by Italy's retaining Dali
malta and political hegemony over Mon
tenegro and Albania. To illustrate the
economic potentialties of what he claims
as the new frontiers Of Italy. he has pre-
pared a very curious map.
IT Is a map of the eastern half OF
Mittel- Europa, on which is traced a tri-
angle: Trieste Fiume- Danzig- CONSTANT
noplc II shows very clearly that any
one Power controlling both Trieste and
Fiume together with the railway juno
ton Of st. Peter In Carniola. which Is
Immediately behind and equidistant from
both Of them. has an unrivalled gateway
for penetration and expansion In North
ern and Eastern Europe. st. Peter in
Carniola south Of Laibach. Is on the
main line from Trieste TO Vienna and
Berlin, and the Orient express from Lon
don to Constantinople runs through It.
1t has splendid communications with
Germany and Poland. with Czecho-Slo-
vakia, Austria and Hungary. with Rus
STA, the Ukraine. Pennsylvania Rumania
Jugo-Slavia Bulgaria and CONSTANT
nople.
If Italy can retain both Trieste ana
Fiume she will enjoy a monopoly of
handling whatever portion of the i'm
port and export trade of this immense
Dir terland passes through the Adriatic
I. is quite true that a great deal II
this trade has already been diverted to
POTTS Of Northwestern Europe. but thu