Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
WAR THORN BLUNTED
BY aFIUME COLLAPSE
Custer of D'Annunzio Will Go Far to
4 Perpetuate Peace. Though It May Bring
Crisis to Italian Government.

that some government, at some time,
must take hold Of the Fiume situation
and end it the best interests of the
nation at large. Giolitti saw that
the Fiume problem could not continue
to prevail if good relations between
Jugoslavia and Italy were to endure
and the whole Adriatic settlement
upheld. 1t is believed if time is per-
mitted to elapse' before the d'Annun-
zioites and conservatives have time to
bring the entire problem to the COM
plexion Of a crisis the conservative
viewpoint will win, for time will
prove the wisdom of the act. Italians
as whole are intensely patriotic. and
though there may be wide divergence
Of opinion as to methods and men,
these divergences usually are sub
merged if it is seen that national in
terest and general veal are to be
perpetuated.
Once Aided by Radicals.
The nationalists at one time were
more dangerous, through the invisible
influence Of the radicals of the coun-
try, presumably under the hidden
leadership of Lenin. The radicals
during the carly days of the Fiume
expedition did much to antagonize
to a head open conflict between the
government and dAnnunzio. and
preached the gospel of government
overthrow by d'Annunzio. 1t was not
that they really cared about dan
nunzio. admittedly then the tactical
leader Of nationalistic ideas in after
the-war adjustments. but the chaos
that would have been created would
have been conducive to the perpetual
tion Of radical thought and given the
radicals a chance to strike FOR their
own interests. They failed to precipi-
OtV-
ing up hope. of accomplishing their
aims by this method. ushered in what
they termed an industrial revolution.
Much was accomplished looking to-
ward the reformation Of Italian in
dustry. but the strictly communistic
Withal. are not hot-headed enough
not to look at Russia and real
ize that Russian panaceas are
not suitable to Italy proper. This
very collapse of radical propaganda
and failure to realize desired goals
easier for Giolitti to act against
Fiume. for he could do so feeling that
even though the conflict be prolonged.
he would not have to fear the machi-
nations of radical and anarchistic
leaders. Likewise. the nationalist ele-
ment no longer felt as secure. know
ing that the government was not in
the slightest intimidated by the thought
of what the radicals might do were
there signs of civil conflict engen-
dered by Fiumian strife.
when Crisis VIII Come.
The actual spillng of blood. however.
Italian against italian, over an issue
that is rooted deeply in the hearts
and minds of all Italian peoples. may
lend strength to the nationalist
cause from unexpected sources. The
crisis will really come after Giolitti
has revealed the whole incident to
the people. If he is able to batten
down the fioode.tes Of possibly POI h;l mis- mis-
ing clear the political expediency of
his action, then present clouds may
But IL he does not and the
force the reconvening OF
while the Fiume incident
the government may face a trying
when it comes to a vote OF
confid ence.
As far as the outside world is con-
cerned. Europe notably. there can be
nothing but pleasure in seeing the
F'iume incident brought to close.
European foreign offices ever since
the Fiume question arose have re-
garded it as a powder magazine to
which was attached quick burning
fuse exposed to any one who might
light It. Italy and Jugoslavia have
after the armistice. when Italian
troops took the line of the treaty of
How close to war they were
well know. having travelled over
miles and miles Of barricaded. wired
and trenched hillsides through Croa-
tia and well into Dalmatia.
Prolongation of uncertainty only
jealousies and suspicious.
Ever there might arise war over a
mere incident provoked by rabid par
tisans. The treaty of Rappalo removed
these dangers. AS I stated at the time
the treaty was drawn. d'Annunxio had
to be reckoned with before any treaty
was enforced. He has been reckoned
with through the courage of the Ital-
ian government and today great
strides have been taken toward not
only the preservation Of peace, but
the perpetuation of amicable rela-
lions between those peoples who have
SO much in common on both sides of
the Adriatic.