Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1921-04-28

lem and the recognition OF the lnue-
pendence Of Fiume, by the treaty OF
Santo Margherita, lends interest to 4
study of D'AnnunZio and his ambition
to extend Italian supremacy over the
Adriatic, made by a correspondent Of
The London Times. Writing from
Fiume about the middle Of October,
he said:
Gabrielle D'AnnunZio is a sort Of
modern Cyrano de Bergerac, with a
J little more talent and a little less
sense. The author Of the Journey to
the Moon" lived In extrayagant days,
when fair ladies and poetic ideals
were the things for which men fought.
But D'AnnunZio-as / took occasion
to tell him.-has abandoned women
and song for Arditi and politics.
Higher politics." was the only cor
rection he smllingly made. and per-
haps he was right. For, however
! much one may condemn his methods
and abhor his aims, there is no deny
ing the far-reaching political effect Of
| his words and deeds. He would be
a negligible factor were it not that
as far as Italy is concerned, he has
lifted the Adriatic question out of the
| sphere of diplomatic compromise and
| deluded his fellow countrymen into
believing that the spoliatiOn of Jugo-
! Slavia is @ matter of national honor
and of vital interest. The Italian gov
eminent Is really powerless, because
D'Annunzio, having given new voice
10 Latin aspiration, has so swayed the
emotions Of one of the most emotional
of peoples that reason is dethroned
and liberty and justice-for which the
war was fought-are flouted.
Let US see what 1t is that DAN
nunzio wants, and why he wants it
for F,lume is merely the nail on which
he hangs the allurlng picture of an
italian Imperialism. First, in order to
obtain complete Adriatic supremacy
he seeks to extend the eastern frontier
of Italy so as to include not only the
whole of Gorilla, Gradisca and Istria.
but considerable portions of Carniola
and Croatia, together 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 a nominally independent Al |
bania and Montenegro. This would |
leave Italy in control not only of |
Trieste and Fiume, but Of cara, Sc
benico, Spalato, Cattaro and all the
other ports of the Adriatic. Jugo-
Slayia would be virtually cut off from
the sea and reduced to economic de-
pendence upon Italy.
Program Summed Up.
D'Annunzio's whole program may
be summed up in q few words: The
aggrandizement of Italy and the
abasement of Jugo-Slavia. The latter,
he believes, will be retained by Italys
retaining Dalmatia and political hege-
nony over Montenegro and Albania.
To illustrate the economic potenti-
llities of what he claims as the new
frontiers of Italy, he has prepared
, very curious map.
1t is map of the eastern half of
on which is traced a
|
1t shows very clearly
hat any one power controlling both
Trieste and Fiume, together with the
ailway junction of st. Peter In Car
liola, which Is Immediately behind |
nd equidistant from both of them,
as an unrivaled gateway for pene-
ration and expansion in Northern and
EASTERN Europe. st. Peter in Carnl-
la, south of Leibach, is on the main
ne from Trieste to Vienna and Ber-
N, and the Orient express from Lon
on to Constantlnople runs through
. 1t has splendid communications
18th Germany and Poland, with Gee
lo-Sloyak a, Austria and Hungary,
18th Russia, the Ukraine, Transylva-
Ia, Roumania, Jugo-Slavia, Bulgaria
nd Constantinople.
If Italy car retain both Trieste and
tune she will enjoy MONOPOLY of
lndling whatever portion Of the I'm
)rt and export trade Of this immense
nterland passes through the Adriatic.
Is quite true that great deal of
is trade has already been diverted
ports of northwestern Europe, but
e Adriatic route. which offers certain
lvantages. more especially for I'm.
'rts and exports to Austria. Hungary
ID the Ukraine, is the natural and al.
ost Indispensable channel for Jugo-
av trade.
Both Bulgaria and Roumania fur
shed important and growing quanti-
IS Of Adriatic business before the
ar, 1t is certain that, with Trieste
The hands OF Italy. and Fiume as
Adriatic port Of the Jugo-Slavs.
ere would be healthy competition,
lich would be of the greatest eco
mic benefit. One Of the arguments
'st frequently put forward by DAN
nzio's supporters is that II FIume
Is In any but italian hands II would
able to compete with Trieste,
lereaS with both norto ItatIa, a,