Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-22
ADR|AT|C CRISIS
THREATENS PEACE
Italian and Serbian Split
Over Albania of No Direct
Concern to America.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
America is without direct interest
in the Italo-Serbian controversy over
Albania, but the incident is regarded
here as one that could easily rekindle
the European powder barrel that
plunged the whole world in war 10.
years ago. On that account Washing
ton is watching developments in Rome.
Belgrade and Tirana vigilantly. At
the latter capital, the seat of Albanian
government, a former Washington
newspaper correspondent is on guard
as American minister-Charles G..
Hart of the Portland Oregonian and
Minneapolis Tribune-so that the State
Department is confident Uncle Sam
will not be "scooped" on any news.
bellicose or otherwise, of importance
to this country.
Washington diplomats consider Pre-
mier Mussolini as the stormy petrol
in the new and perilous situation in
southeastern Europe. A map of the
Mediterranean, and especially of the
Adriatic Sea, shows at a glance the
territorial conditions and rival inter
ests involved. Jugoslavia the king
dom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) is
Italy'S neXt-door neighbor at Fiume,
where their respective borders meet
attic The Jugoslavian seacoast thence
runs fsoutheasterly along the Adriatic
to the border of Albania.
Accused of Imperialism.
Mussolini flushed with dictatorial
triumphs in Italy itself, has been more
or less openly revealing his determine
ton to enhance Italian glory in the
field of foreign politics. His detract-
ors have persistently been accusing
him of imperialistic designs at the
expense of Italy's neighbors and at
tributing to him grandiose plans of
Napoleonic and Hohenzollern calliber.
Three years ago Mussolini embarked
upon series of international treaties
FOR the manifest purpose of conSolidat-
ing the Italian position abroad. The
arst one was concluded in January,
1924, with JugoSlavia--the country
with which Italy is now quarreling
1t was a treaty of neutrality and cor
dial collaboration in case of unprovok-
ed attack. In September, 1924, Italy
made treaty with Switzerland, pro-
viding for Cancellation and for arbitra-
ton of all disputes
Last year Mussolini negotiated two
treaties, which have a vital and direct
bearing upon the crisis which has now
e'AAoNA, elliup III lil6 Oh many
authorities, they are the developments
concretely responsible for the crisis
The first of these pacts was the
ltalian-Rumanian treaty of Septem-
Der II, 1926, which, though on it's
race providing for merely benevolent
collaboration" contains distinct sug-
gestions of a military alliance In No
Vember, 1926, Italy entered into a
treaty with Albania for the avowed
purpose Of maintaining the political,
Juridical and territorial status quo Of
Albania" Article one of the treaty
declares that: Italy and Albania rec
ognize that any disturbance directed
against the political, juridical and
territorial status quo of Albania Is
opposed to their reciprocal political in
terest."
Pact Caused Anxiety.
The Albanian pact caused immedi-
ate anxiety in Jugoslavia and con-
WINGED the Belgrade government that
1t was a palpable move on the part of
Mussolini to bring Albania into the
italian sphere of influence and reduce
the country practically to the stateNof
an Italian dependency. With Albania
under the control of Rome, the Atlri-
attic would be converted into an Ital-
ian lake. Jugoslavia's outlet to the
Mediterranean would be cut off At
the eastern end of the Adriatic is AL
bania. Directly opposite, on the west
ern side of that sea, is the heel of
the boot" which Italy projects into
the Mediterranean.
What Jugoslavia frankly fears is
the domination of Albania by Rome,
with imminent or at least ever-pres-
ent danger to Jugoslavian territorial
security. An Albania in formal al
lance with Italy and Rumania
(Which borders Jugoslavia on the
northeasD in benevolent collabora-
ton" with Italy present a combination
which the Jugoslavians are bound to
consider as full of possible menace.
Not long ago Mussolini, after pro-
tracted delay, acknowledged Ru-
mania's right to the former Russian
province of Bessarabia, annexed by
the Bucharest government after the
World War.
Once Sought Albania.
Italy withheld it's recognition of
the annexation, 1t is now believed
mainly because Mussolini desired to
use it as an inducement to persuade
Rumania. tor conclude the "collabora.
ton" treaty. The Italian premier held
off for another reported reason-his
Discrimination to offend Russia until
Italy had obtained certain arrange
ments with the Soviet for supplies of
coal and wheat.
Italy made a vigorous drive at the
Versailles peace conference to acquire
Albania, of which she was in actual
possession when the war ended. But
Woodrow Wilson's self determine
ton" program and the unexpected re-
sistance of the Albanian Nationalist
wrecked Italy's ambitions. Gabrielle
d'AnnunZio's armed occupation of
Fiume in 1919 was an expression of
Italian resentment over the enforced
evacuation of Albania.
Italy also has treaties Of "collabora-
ton and friendship with Czechoslo-
vakia and of Cancellation and arbitra-
finn with Carrnanv