Evening star., 1920-02-15
WAR BETWEEN SERBIA
AND ITALY THREATENS
Speedy Settlement of Adriatic Questions
Is Held Necessary to Prevent
Their Clash.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
! AUGHT in the fioodudes Of
political circumstance and
~ passions whipped by delay in
settlement Of the issues pend
ing between them on the one
hand and the peace conference on the
other, Serbia and Italy are drifting to-
ward war. Indeed they have been
standing on and now overlook the
brink.
Even the combined actions OF Eng
land, France and the United States
could not prevent such contingency, for
the reason that the two countries are
at the moment prepared for more or
less organized conflict for period or
twelve months. and to those who are
conversant with temperament and the
habit of stubbornly clinging to prin-
ciple among both peoples, it Is well
realized that even should economic
pressure be brought to bear these peo-
pies might continues guerilla conhict
in the Alpine regions. Croatia. Slovakia
and Dalmatia for an indefinite period,
if they so decide.
Quick Action Necessary.
Only quick and satisfactory settle
ment of the whole Adriatic issue will
prevent untoward events involving the
two countries. And there Is little nope,
for every attempt of Italy to compro-
mise the issue has been spurneo by the
government in Belgrade. Though WILL
ing to compromise to wide degree, the
Italian government has been inSlstent,
for sentimental and military reasons,
on maintaining and protecting, insofar
as possible, the Italianity of all those
regions in dispute.
All proposed settlements have been
contrary to the wishes of either Ser
| bia or Italy. and if the two have shown
any signs of agreement there have been
objections registered on the part OF
England and France to various pro-
| posed terms. This has thrown all pos
sibility of amicable adjustment into
| the discard, for neither France nor
!Great Britain intend to see any Adriatic
}settlement reflect on the commercial
and financial plans OF either country,
all ostensibly designed for the protec-
! ton of the Balkans
| Though settlement of the Adriatic
| problems between the two countries is
i keenly desired by them. there are many
reasons for expecting failure. both
Serbia and Italy are preparing for strug-
! gle should their wishes be frustrated in
fnal decisions OF the peace conference
/ but neither people actually want war.
! I'VE desire to continue in conrod
with Italy. which naturally is and should
continue to be our friend. but
| This from the Serbian whether OF
high or low degree.
! sThe future Of this section of the
world rests upon amity and peace be-
tween Serbia and Italy. but This
qualifying remark is often reiterated
| through Italy.
! Hence the situation as it exists today
is one where both peoples would avoid
the thing that seems so near before
them. yet through the tides of senti-
mentality and national aspirations each
is forced to take up an antagonisttc
stand that forever may prevent ad-
vancement of the whole region skirting
on and to the east of the Adriatic.
Forced to Protect Interests.
The Serbians. who during the wal
rendered such gallant service and the
loverrunning Of whose country offered
ipretext for the world conflict. are forced
to protect the interests of all those peo-
pies now composing the kingdom of the
Serbs. Croats and Slovenes. Serbia is
cognizant Of the antagonisms to it that
exist among the Croats and Slovenes.
though these people be Of the same
generic or racial origin. But Serbia
must fight their battles. and unless
arm measures be brought to bear against
persons even in Belgrade who believe
that the Croats and Slovenes will will
fngly and adequately assist Serbia's ef-
fort to perpetuate her desires in the
face Of Italian opposition of any char
acter. The Croats and Slovenes are
largely Indifferent to the future fate
of Fiume as port or even their own
welfare, but Serbia believes she has a
mission in the protection OF her king
dom as created by the peace conference.
and as a consequence must battle to
the bitter end for these peoples arbi-
trarily given to her.
| Serbia's resistance to Italy in fact
may be made occasion for the crystalli-
zation of such antagonisms as exist
through Croatia and Slovenia against
| the Serbs. Any outbreak between Ser
bia and Italy might be made occasion
for local counter action to separate Croa.
tia and Slovenia from the Serbian king
dom. Antagonisms and hatreds against
the Serbs, builded up during the long
years Of Austrian control in these re-
gions, exist today. There is suspicion
Of Serbia's motives and her strength to
| protect them in case OF necessity. Even
| Serbians admit this. Already the counter
revolutionists Of Croatia are said to
in readiness to strike agains. Serbia for
their independence or with the hope of
eventual reunion to Austria.
Position of the Italians.
Much as the Italians would prefer to
| continue in concord with the Serbians.
i the Italians are bitter enemies Of the
Croats and Slovenes. Upon the Carso.
| on the plains and mountains of the
Isonzo, in the Julian Alps and later on
| the Tagliamento and the Piave, the
Italian units were chiefly engaged
against Croats or Slovenes used by the
Austrians as attacking units. Naturally
the antipathies which have existed
through the decades and sharpened by
j occasion of war are still intense, but
Italy is ready to compromise the whole
Adriatic problem up to certain limits,
| with the hope of perpetuating good re-
lations with Serbia proper, which is
standing sponsor for the Croats and
Slovenes, who. after all. compose a
doubtful element in the strength Of the
new kingdom.
BY virtue Of the strong national senti-
ment that has been builded up in Italy
in favor Of settling the whole question
ic a manner respecting the Italianity OF
every settlement on the eastern side OF
the Adriatic, the position Of Premier
Nitti and his government Is made ex-
tremely embarrassing in reaching any
settlement that varies in the least from
the clear-cut, sharp lines originated by
Baron Sonnino. foreign minister in the
Orlando cabinet.
That any agreement by any gov.
ernment to any settlement not in
cluding Dalmatia, Fiume and all OF
the territories north of the Adriati'