Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-01
ITALY FACES PROBLEM.
Peasants OF North Tyrol Dissatisfied
With Rule.
ny DIX. GUSTAV STOLrER.

By Radio To The star.
INNSBRUCK, Tyrol. December 81.
The writer is spending the holiday
season in this lofty Tyrol village.
Two or three other strangers have
gathered in the old inn. They do not
disturb the harmony of the peasants,
who lead contemplative life almos;
half the year. until the melting SHOWS
bring felled logs down the mountain
side, or grain can be sowed.
But at one place the 300 people
who inhabit the village are reminded
daily of the great world and their
own fate. At the entrance 10 the VIII
lace church stands high stone
cross, both sides of which bear tab
let's perpctuating the names of the
local sons who gave their lives in the
great war.
Some % names are there. represent.
ing nearly the entire male youth of
the village with the names of the
places where they fell--some in
Siberia's steppes. others in unknown
corners of Galicia. some In the
Calabrian internment prison In
southernmost Italy. one on the Turkish
front somewhere In Asia and only
two or three in the pasubyo. where
streams OF blood were shed to defend
Tyrolese soil against the Italian
enemy.
Al best, the war had a real meaning
only for these last two or three.
They fought to protect their homeland.
The fate of all the others seems sense
less. None OF them had known he.
fore aught OF the land into which the
war cast them. None understood the
language Of the people among whom
they died. None really conceived
what he was defending in Gaitcia or
Turkey. They were told they were
fighting for the Kaiser. hut the year
1918 showed how lightly the Hapsburg
throne was rooted in the hearts Of It's
subjects.
Whether Gaiicia belonged to n free
Poland, to czaristic Russia or TO the
Austrian monarchy was-and is-i
matter OF utter Indifference TO the
Tyroiese peasant. For him there were
only two important things worth
fighting for--thc fate of Tyroi and the
fate NJ the German people, TO whom
he belongs
The war cheated him Of both. II
brought South Tyrol to Italy. which
is denationaliZing her new German
citizens by all violent measures, and
which even refuses To permit children
tn lee taught in their mother tongue.
There is hardly family In Austrian
North Tyrol that has not friends and
relatives south Of Brcnner. with whom
they may not even exchange harmless
letters. since every letter from the
north makes the German South
Tyroiese politically suspected.
IND Ez ia. tf.,
separated from the fate OF the Ger.
man reich. That the old Iiapsbure
empire fell. and that The Czechs Poles
and cfoats were no longer fellow
citizens. caused little grief. They
were heartily welcome Ia their own
states. But II could not be under
Stood why the Germans of old Austria
alone were refused what was granted
all others. namely. national unity.
People Conduct I'iebiscite.
In 1920 the Tyrolese on their own
initiative conducted IL picbiscie and
~ per cent ~ the total vote was cast
for union with Germany. But this
plebisciie has as little political i'm.
portance az similar piebisciies In
Salisbury and other Austrian prov.
inces.
Austria. was forbidden IN unite with
Germany, with which IL was Joined
not only by the same language and
culture, hut also by IA thousand years
Of history. since Vienna wns the cap,
lihl Of the old German reich md the
Austrian rulers were German Eaiserb.
The Ty6lrss peasants who In these
days Of Christian fesiivity consider
their political fate cannot understand
II al all Their sons ana brothers
died for no reason. and their own fate
! IN also without meaning In The higher
sense They are mere objects Of
political forces outside their land and
have no Influence over these forces.
ANA this IL assurediy ths worst fate
IA people can suffer.
When one recalls the ideals In the
name Of which the war was fought
. when one recalls democracy and self
| determination" and then compares
these phrases with the actual condi
| fioTts IN Europe, one begins ~ realize
| the greatness ~ the task confronting
| Europe's leaders.
War has proved failure as u
means OF bringing order into the con
! tiDeHt's tangled states II has merely
/ brought new auaffsIs and the seeds
~ new wars, A better order can be
created only by peaceful hearts and
10y peaceful means.
| fC0Bsrisht. iDa7l
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