Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-01-06


an Italian lmperiaism-He Has
Given a New Voice to italian As.
pration.
The settlement of the Adriatic prob
lem and the recognition of the indie
pendence of Fiume, by the treaty OF
Santo Margherita, lends interest to a
study of D'Annunzio and his ambition
to extend Italian supremacy over the
Adriatic, made by correspondent OF
the London Times. Writing from
Eiume about the middle Of October,
he said:
Gabrielle D'AnnunZio Is sort or
modern Cyrano de Bergerac, with
little more talent and little less
sense. The author of the Journey to
the Moon" lived in eXtravasant days,
when fair ladies and poetic ideals
were the things for which men fought.
But D'Annunzio-as | took occasion
to tell him--hus abandoned women
and song for Arditi and politics.
Higher politics" was, the only cor
rection he smilingly 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
negligible factor were II 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 c0untrymen into
believing that the spoliation of Jugo-
Slavia is matter of national honor
and of vital interest The Italian gov
crnment is really powerless, because
DAnnunzio, having given new voice
to 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 it is that DAN
nunzio wants, and why he wants 1t
for Fiume is merely the nail on which
he hangs the alluring 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 lstria,
but considerable portions of Carniola
and Croatia, together with the islands
of the Quarnero (Veglla and Cherso).
He wishes Italy to retain Dalmatia
and the islands of the eastern coast,
and some form of political suzerainty
over nominully 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
Slavia would be virtually cut off from
the sea and reduced to economic de-
pendence upon Italy.
Program Summed Up.
DAnnunzio's whole program may
be summed up in few words: The
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Italy and the
AMUSEMENT of Jugo-Slavia. The latter,
he believes. will be retained by ltaly's
retaining Dalmatia and political hege-
mony over Montenegro and Albania.
IL llluStIult lHS SIohollliS potShti
alities of what he claims as the new
frontiers of Italy, he has prepared
very curious map.
1t is map of the eastern half Of
Mittel-Europa, on which Is traced
triangle: Trieste-Fiume-D anZig Con-
stantinople. 1t shows very clearly
that any one power controlling both
Trieste and Fiume, together with the
railway junction of st. Peter in Car
niola, which is Immediately behind
and equidistant from both Of them,
has an unrivaled gateway for pene-
tration and expansion In Northern and
Eastern Europe. st. Peter in Carnl-
ola, south of Leibach, is on the main
line from Trieste to Vienna and Ber-
lin, and the Orient express from Lon
don to ConstantinOple runs through
1t. 1t has splendid communications
with Germany and Poland, with Gee
chO-Slovakia, Austria and Hungary,
with Russia, the Ukraine, Transylva-
MIA, Roumania, Jugo-Slavia, Bulgaria
and Constantinople.
II Italy can retain both Trieste and
Fiume she will enjoy monopoly of
handling whatever portion of the inn
port and export trade Of this immense
hinterland passes through the Adriatic,
1t is quite true that great deal Of
this trade has already been diverted
to ports of northwestern Europe, but
the Adriatic route, which offers certain
advantages, more especially for i'm
ports and exports to Austria, Hungary
and the Ukraine, Is the natural and al
most Indispensable channel for Jugo-
Slav trade.
Both Bulgaria and Roumania fur
pished important and growing quanti-
ties of Adriatic business before the
war. 1t Is certain that, with Trieste
in the hands of Italy, and Fiume as
the Adriatic port Of the Jugo-Slavs,
there would be a healthy competition,
which would be of the greatest eco
nomic benefit. One of the arguments
most frequently put forward by D'An-
nunzio's supporters Ia that If Fiume
was In any but italian hands 1t would
be able to compete with Trieste,
whereas with both ports italian, II
will be possible for them to combine
in ordor m nnntroI Adriotic frada