Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 44 Years.] WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1919. ITALY AND THE SLAVS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13754, 5 February 1919, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 44 Years.] WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1919. ITALY AND THE SLAVS.

The first months of peace were bound to reveal some of the dangers of the series of compromise agreements -which were adopted both vrithin and between the Allied countries for the sake of winning the war. In every free country there was a substantial agreement that no conflict of interests was worth consideration beside the defeat of Germany. The same conviction bound tho Allies together, and apart from the disintegration of Russia, answered every attempt to divide them until victory was achieved. To-day the wise and generous spirit which preserved the coalition against tho expectations of its enemies will inform the deliberations of the Peace Conference, but it is sure to be tested by manifestations of national ambition which cannot be concealed now that external danger has disappeared. The first source of danger to show itself has been the dispute between tho Italians and Slavs. It is the immediate result of a bargain between Italy and the Allies, to which there corresponded a compromise between two sections of the Italian people. Italian intervention was the outcome of a wave of popular enthusiasm which no Government could resist. But it was preceded by a series of bargains in which Italian statesmen sought to assure themselves of every possible territorial extension at the expense of Austria as tho price of neutrality. The treaty since published by the Russian Soviets lias been used as a basis of many charges of Imperialism '-gainst all the Allies. It certainly gives Italy territory

on the Adriatic which was not inhabited by Italians and was not necessary to the defence of strictly Italian frontiers. But it gives none of the original Allies any advantage except Italian help; it strictly protects the peoples of Croatia, of Servia, and of Montenegro; it was made at a time when Italy was thought likely to havo a decisive influence on the fortunes of the war, and when her most powerful statesman was urging her to accept concessions of great value from Austria at no cost whatever. Tho treaty was published at a time when grave dissatisfaction had been expressed in Italy with the conduct and length of the war. Tho Socialist element, which had favoured intervention and worked hard for national declared that it would not support any Government which continued the war for other objects than the union of the Italian race and the defence of the kingdom. It was thought that their viewwas supported by Signor Orlando, as it was certainly opposed by Baron Sonnino, one of the authors of the secret treaty. When the treaty was concluded there was no Jugo-Slav army, nor was the new Jugo-Slav State recognised, or oven contemplated, by the Allies. Tho recognition of the new State by Great Britain, France and the United States, and the very effective appearance of Slav regiments in the Italian army, were thought to mean the abandonment of Italian claims to land inhabited by a majority of Slav people. The armistice, and the events immediately following it, proved that this was not the belief of all the Italian Ministers. The armistice allowed Italian troops to occupy the whole of Dalmatia, mainly a Slav district. A week later Italian troops crossed the lino of demarcation and pressed on to the suburbs of Laibach, tho southern Slav capital, where they were threatened with resistance by the Servian commander. At Fiume, where the Servians had entered, and at Trieste, disputes had occurred which had only been settled by the arrival of Amem'ican troops and by the decision of the naval commander of the Allies at Corfu. Within Italy the danger was reflected by the resignation of Signor Bissolati, the Socialist Minister, followed by the reorganisation of the Ministry. Since Signor Orlando is to remain Prime Minister, it is probable that the Moderate party has triumphed, and that Italy will claim no extension of territory not entirely consistent with the principle of self-determination. But it is obvious that the principle can not always be applied exactly. In this case, for a time at least, neither of the peoples concerned, was willing to trust its case to the unbiassed wisdom of the Peace Conference. Each sought to create an established fact by the occupation of territory, and then to rely ou the weariness or remoteness of the Allied armies to avoid being dispossessed.