Evening star., 1928-05-20
RY C. d. BOOTH.

iSons in thai section and is in position &c
give sn su'horiuNe opinion Mr. bo9tn 4
special correspondent Of The Star and CHI
SAEo Daily News.A
81 c. ID. BOOTH.
TTRANA. Albania. Notwithstanding
the efforts of the great powers to keep
the Balkan pot from boiling over, pros
5ects along the eastern shore of the
Adriatic are far from bright. Indeed, II
it were not reasonably certain that
.IugoSlavia, under pressure from France,
is about TO sign modified Nettuno
treaty. it might well be assumed that
the Balkan stage is set for q drama
which must reach its climax IN some
thing far more disastrous than the
AIbano-JugoSlav incident Of last Spring.
Among the people at Susak, the
Aoriatic port of Croatia, Which lies
across q narrow river from Flume, there
is a belligerent attitude born OF the
fear that the conditions OF Nettuno,
when put into effect, VIII leao 70 eco
nomic penetration Of the country oy
Italians TO the ruin of the infant IN
dustries of all Croatia,
Spalato, some weeks ago, was IN a
ferment of excitement for the same
reason. and at Ragusa the air Is full OF
INDIGNANT ciamor, not so much directed
against Italy as against the Belgraoe
government for even considering the
BETRAYAL of Dalmatia by signing pact
which will permit Italians TO eStapilsn
themselves in the land on terms OF
equality with its inhabitants.
Minorities Are Truculent
Having regard to the small NUM-
ber of italians resident in Daimalla,
and to the wide privileges they ENJOY
by treaty as q national minority, IL
must be admitted that there Is some
cause for the fears which the CroarianS
and DalmatianS so freely express,
have seen many minorities in d.
vers countries. but never have WIT
messed a turbulence comparable to tnat
of the handful-leSs than 1o,oOO-oi
italians that remain on the eastern
shore of the Adriatic. Every week they
hold meetings appealing to Fascist 1taly
10 come and deliver them from the yoke
OF the barbarouS SlavS. In this they
are encouraged by food OF propaganda
euanating from various italian papers
and reviews, most Of which are IFanKy
dedicated to the policy Of making the
Adriatic an Italian lake Even Sucn
a serious review as Gerarchia makes
occasional reference 10 the necessity
for an early liberation by lmperlai Itaiy
~$-N~@~~~
the Dalmatian coast.
In retaliation the Jugoslays publish
much indammat0ry matter IN the ON
cial papers OF their patriotic societies.
In 50 far as il is possible they also
en6ezyor To make miserable the lives
OF italians and Italians Of Slav descent.
Added 70 the irritant effect OF sucn
conduct by individuals OF both nations
are the operations OF the Italian govern
rnert II TStria and GoTizia. In these
new Italian provinces the autnoriEeS
are pursuing . temperate poncy o. oe-
ratfonaaizang the 500 900 Slay tnhabi-
tauts in the hope that once they are
crushed. and their Slavonic names
given an Italian ending by decree, they
win blossom out into 100 per cent
FasciSts.
WhiIe everything above recited may
b. considered as q relatively unin-
por1ant manifestation OF national an
tipatflieg not greatly affecting the pol
scies Of Rome and Belgrade, there are
more serious matters afoot. Under
meath the emotional appearance are the
realities Of active preparation BY Jugo-
slavia for conflict which is regarded
as inevitable.
The Jugoslav army in training, If
not in equipment, is at the peak OF EN-
y j
submarines In England and in France.
Nearly half OF the officers of Jugo-
slavia's tiny feet are nov in England
undergoing intensive training In mod
ern methods Of naval warfare. In adj
6ltson TO huge purchases Of arms and
munitions from France and CZech0-
Slcvakia. the JugoSlav government is
making serious efforts 10 construct and
equip factories for the manufacture of
war material inside the frontiers Of the
kingdom.
Lack Of safe communications with
the outside world ia the event of war is
undoubtedly the chief anxiety Of the
JugOglay people. Exit 70 the Aegean
Sea is blocked by Greek ownership Of
Ezlonikl and a 40-uliie corridor 10 the
north Of that port The Adriatic Is a
closed sea since Italy's seizure and for
ti1cat3on Of Easseno, the island which
lies Of AyiOna. Ia Albania, and less
than so miles from the italian coast
Enmity Is Increasing.
Only one useful channel Of entry or
exit remains 70 the Jugoslays, namely,
the railway line Belgrade-Zagreb-A Aus
tr1s, This, too. is made precariols by
long bridge near the frontier station
Of Eteinbruch, which is within easy
E1NIU "a aM Dot3DAAk s4Ad0foflSs By
whom II could be destroyed within two
hours OF the outbreak OF hostiiities.
These unfayorable circumstances In
which the Jugoslay people find
themselves are, for the moment.
operating as brake upon beIligerent
aspirations, bat they can never form
q permanent basis Of peace, nor can
they arrest the ever accommodating
errnity between Italy and Jugoslavia
The local paper of Tirana, which Is
frequently suppressed At the request Of
the Italian Minister has dealt very
frankly with the unhealthy condition
Of AIbaniss finances, attFibuting the