To the Editor of the "Norti-Caixa Datty News."
Sin,—Your well balanced leader on The Adriatic Deadlock" which appeared in the issue of your valuable paper of the 26th instant is not quite in agreement with the causes leading to d'Annunzio's raid on Fiume, as given by the leading newspapers of Italy. The deplorable incidents between the French and Italian detachments. which have happily passed into the domains of the past, caused an inquiry to be made by the representative of the Big Four and the decisions arrived at by them, which to the majority of the Italians appeared to be, to put it very mild ly, impolitic, caused d'Annunzio's raid.
The Commission of Inquiry de cided that the greater part of the Italian detachment should withdrawn and the policing of Fiume—an eminently Italian town entrusted to British policemen from Malta D'Annuunzio, and with him the whole of the Italian people, saw in this—rightly or wrongly—not only a gratuitous insult to the Ita-lion Army, whi in chivalry and kindness, but an attempt to oust the Italians from Fiume with a view of eventually handing over the town to Jugo-Slavia Therefore your. statement that "The raid was badly timed, taking place xt a moment when the Allies had all but made up their minds that the town of Fiume should go to Italy" requires confirmation and appears to be open to ques: tions.
If your contention is correct, it is to be deeply regretted that the policy of silence adopted by our leaders, was not broken at that time, and the Italian people informed of the decision about to be taken regarding Fiume; there would then have been no raid with its unpleasant consequences.
The general opinion throughout Italy then and now, is that d'An nunzio's raid' prevented the town of Fiume being handed over—against its will—to Jugo-Slavia The sacrifices made by Italy certainly entitle her to alleviate the unhappy, conditions of her sons f under alien domination, whilst the policy of the Allies would appear to aim at letting matters remain much the same as they were before the war; the only difference allow ed being the change from the Austrian to the Jugo-Slav Flag of the people who, supported by the defunct Austrian Empire, have always worked to wipe off, no matter by what means, the remains of the Italian communities on the other shores of the "Mare Amarissimo," to ive the Adriatic the name given to it by d'Annunzio long before the war.
Enclosing my card, AN Traitay.
Hankow, Feb. 28-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.