Feb. 1.
Winns the public of Great Britain has been concentrating] its attention first on a General Election and then on the advent of Labour to power, very important events have' been cul minating in Central " Europe. After four years of the bitterest animosity, Italy and Jugo-Slavia have made an alliance, and the effects of it are so far-reaching that for the future they will react upon every phase of European polities. To realize the situation we must trace the position of these nations since the war, Italy and Jugo-Slavia, (the principal partner in which is Serbia) were allies during the! struggle aguinst the Central Powers, and so long as the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hiunga remained a menace it held them together. When, however, the Austrian Empire broke ' up, trouble began. Ttaly, previous. ly confined to the west coast of the Adriatic, gradually crept down the eastern side "ud reached the important port of Fiume. Now Fiume is in the most delicate position possible. Tks population is almost purely Ttalan in character, but the _sncrounding country is pure Iugo-Slav. Moreover it is an import ant outlet both for Italian and Ingo-Slav trade, and naturally when the treaty-makers came to deal with it they found themselves im very great difficulties. "Phe 'Treaty of Rapallo, which settled the disposition of this of Europe, was largely dominated by President Wilson ideas of self-determination, but while the diplomats took' into consideration the general sent ments of the populace, they failed to contemplate the peculiar position of the hitherto isolated inhabitants of Fiume.. President Wilson's obstinate jet tu his theories overruled Italy and alli the other Powers, and while Teading to an amazing sot of situations, might equally have led to war.
The theories of the treaty-makers, admirably calculated they were, did not in the least appeal to the people of Fiume, who after years of Austro. Hungarian domination at length hoped to sce themselves under the flag of Ttaly, whose territory they now adjoined following the war. When they found that Fiume was to be merely an dependent, insignificant. state— ly nothing more than a ith no convenient standig fur its citizens abroad, the -|mother instinct became dominant and the inhabitants declared +|for Ttalian nationality and Ttali possession. Then d'Annunzio stepped id proceeded to} hold Fiume for Ttaly against the whole world, and as it subsequently turned out, against aly He tad Ttalian volun-and Fiume residents' as and there was the cle of a poet with a mere handful of men defying the armed world. The armed world as, however, merciful and stead of crushing such impertinence, took steps to let the movement die with as little loss of blood as possible. D'Annunzio was allowed totetire to his eountry villa in Ttaly, and Fiume became independent although protection. Both however, the advantage la side. financed the port, and has spent no less than 300."
000,000 lire upon it since. The Ca position, however, fraught with danger, and not until! Signor Mussolini decided to risk everything so that Fiume should be Ttalian did the atmosphere clear. Tu doing so he almost courted war, but the very boldness of the step he took probably averted that event. The inhabitants of Fiume once more declared themselves Italian in a proclamation, and with that, knowledge behind him Signor Mussolini intimated to Jugo-Slavia that he proposed to settle the question finally on the lines thus indicated. Porto Barros, a small seaport to the south Fiume, would go to Jugo-Slavia; the port of Fiume would be free port for Jugo-Slav trade and would be administered by a commission of Italians, Jugo-Slavs and residents of Fiume; and then Italy would ally herself! with Jugo-Slavia. A moment! of tension ensued, but the principle of the port's annexation to Ttaly was accepted by M. Pasitch, the Premier of Jugo-Slavia, who appears to _havel great statesmanlike qualities, and to-day the treaty has. been signed to the general satisfaction of both nations.
We have dealt at length with the history of Fiume not because of the dispute over Fiume but og leading up to the position which it will enable] Italy to take in the most important question in Europe today—German reparations. So long as Italy was in bitter enmity with Jugo-Slavin she was at a disadvantage in talking to France on reparations. She} found herself opposed front and rear. Her danger was increased when France started pourparlers with Czecho-Slovakin, and when the treaty between the two was} signed and France secured a con-_ trolling influence in the Little Teas wit Boland abi Botenio, composed. of Spoke iving a helping' band, it look-if Ttaly would be isolated. Now, however, Italy and Jugo-Slavia have joined hands, and not only has an equilibrium in the Little Entente been established, but Italy is free to lay) her views on reparations unreserved ly upon the table. Tt happen that the pronouneements of Signor Mussolini and the Italian policy in general bear avery strong resemblance to! what hag been hinted at by! British statesmen recently in office and what we know the Labour Party thinks about} the matter. "That being so, hand now being]
may all be on ferent policy in European affairs. Signor, Mussolini has shown himself to be Ttaly's strong man. There is 'a belief that Mr. Ramsay Macdonald may equally prove Britain's strong man, as his inter. views suggest, and the' whole! European situation may actually, assume a different aspect, largely owing to the Wiume ' settle.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.