Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-11
FRENCH AND ITALIAN
RELATIONS STRAINED
BY ANDRE TARDrEU
(Formsr French High Commissioner
to America.)

to America.)
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921
a new note of alarm is discernible In
Europe. French and Italian relations are
being severely strained. The tension is
continuous Italy blames France for all
her disappointments at Versailles, forget
ting what she actually gained result
Of the war II. Tardieu declares the blame
cast upon France 10 not deserved. He sees
the need Of early and frank discussions,
however, If trouble 10 to be avoided. All
of which proves that the making Of the
peace may take as many years as 1t took
to win the war;
PARIS, Oct. S.-A persistent ten
sion in French and Italian relations
is one of the principal sources of
European unrest as the hostile dem
onstrations in Milan and Venice
against the French mission sent to
participate In the Mount Tomba
battle commemoration amply prove.
Whether on account Of territorial
proximity or racial rela tionShip, diff
ferences between the French and the
Italians throughout the last fifty
years nave pSSu frequent anu ~,
despite Frances decisive help in
forming Italian unity.
When at Versailles Italy became
dissatisfied with certain decisions,
she blamed France. French soldiers
at Fiume fell victims to this dis
satisfaction. Again today a French
marshal Is made the butt Of popu-
France for her every disappoint-
ment.
= This is not only regrettable, but
II is unjust.
Ministers to Blams
!. I can bear witness as a partici-
pant that France many times sup
ported Italy's just claims at YER
sailles. AS everybody knows, 1t was
President Wilson who refused to
recognize the treaty Of London OF
i915. NJ; Cemenceau repeatedly de-
clared his readiness, to execute 1t.
The real crux to the long wrangle
was not the demanded execution of
the clauses of the treaty, but the
violation concerning Fiume, for
Fiume, so passionately claimed by
italy. was under the treaty of Lon
don, signed by Italy, promised to
Jugo-Sia via.
Had the Italian people known the
true facts their sentiment would
not nave turned toward their allies
WuO "CIS uOl " OldLiC, OoI "ObAN
have been against her ministers. The
latter for many months, through
fear Of the public wrath, refrained
from telling the truth, refrained
from admitting that it was not the
allies in 1919, but Italy herself In
Slavs. Lacking the courage to con-
fess this, Italy's ministers stirred
up a movement of opinion from
! which France, being nearer than
England or America, was the priS-
fcipal sufferer.
= These facts are the real basis of
the recent painful incidents in ad-
sdition to Italy suffering from the
Isame postwar difficulties as other
acountries, notably France. Certain
political persons think it advanta-
so nnbc op fhg
much Italy may have lost and suf-
fered, no impartial person can deny
aher immense gains including the
Alpine frontier, Trentine and -strai
to mention no others.
did the Italians in their widest |
dreams, expect more. Not only was
national unity realized but complete
security as we'll. Now read the Itai-
ian papers! These gains seem to
count for 10Th nothing hEyeryb2dy has
created state of mind affects the
whole italian daily life.
France Not Responsible
I can conscientiously declare that
France IS not responsible for this
situation. Moreover, the French pa
pers do not contain any such bit
ter, and frequently aggressive ar
ticles as the Italians publish against |
France. During the war and during
the peace we always have acted as
Ita1y's firm friends and we do not
deserve such reproaches. But despite
all that has been done, we are
anxious to improve this situation
which is so damaging to our neigh
bors, to ourselves and to all of
Europe.
MY conviction is that such an
Improvement is possible only
through mutual frangness concern
ing common issues. During the last
twenty months we have been liv-
ing just from day to day and the
result Is bad whether we speak of
Italy, or of Britain. There is need
of a frank discussion of special
problems as well as general propo-
sitions.
Until the war Italy belonged to
the Triple Alliance with Germany
and Austria. She abandoned that
in 1915 and the sub
sequent peace completely destroyed
1t. France should have been reflect
ing on this all of this time and
seeking a means to bring Italy
once more within systematized
Europe. When house is DESTROYED
it must be replaced, else all Will
suffer. The making of war TOOK
four years.