THE ATTITUDE OF ITALY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 8

THE ATTITUDE OF ITALY.

Although public feeling in Italy is running high over the Adriatic question, it is now apparent that the breach at tho Peace Congress is not final. Indeed the indications are that the Italian delegates, greatly offended as they arc by the tactics of Mr. Wilson, will be satisfied with the somewhat sensational protest they have entered and will shortly resume negotiations. The Italian representatives make it clear that their dissatisfaction arises, not from the proceedings of the congress, but from the manifesto issued by Mr. Wilson over the head of the congress. If, as they aver, negotiations were proceeding on a compromise which might have been accepted, the moment chosen by Mr. Wilson to give publicity to his views was exceedingly ill-timed. The President's aversion to secret treaties is well known, but he agreed with the other members of the congress that the negotiations must be secret. If Mr. Wilson reserves the right at critical moments, to criticise* publicly matters still before the congress an impossible situation will obviously arise. Unfortunately Mr. Wilson has some of the faults of the doctrinaire, and is disinclined to compromise, no matter how difficult it may be to apply his general principles to a particular set of circumstances. The incident will not be without its value if it. teaches him that all the parties to the congress aro not prepared to accept his dictum on all questions. The Italians undoubtedly feel very strongly on their Adriatic claims. They remember with some bitterness that twothirds of the Jugoslavs were in arms against them until the Austrian army was practically defeated, and they have repeatedly refused to submit the dispute to arbitration. While keeping their case in their own hands they are now suggesting compromises, the character of which is not stated. Since, however, Italy is anxious to obtain Fiume, which was not nssignedto her by the Treaty of London, it is highly probable that 'she is willing to surrender some of the territory that falls to her under that treaty. Her relations with Britain and France remain cordial, and they will exert themselves to the utmost both to bring Italy back to the congress and to secure a reasonable settlement of her disnute with the Jugoslavs. Such incidents as the threatened withdrawal of the Italians have marked other peace conferences. That at Vienna a oentury ago was almost split several times, but it survived to finish its task. In the end it may be found i that the Italian episode has hastened i rather than delayed peace by clear- ' ing the atmosphere. I