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Show JUGOSLAVS AND SYRIANS PRESENT SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR PEACE CONSIDERATION Must Secure Finn Footing on Which to Stand Alone and Also Prevent Friction With . Any of the Allies. TJy CAROLYN WILSON. (New York Tiins-ChicMgo Tribune Cable. Copyright.) PATHS, Dec. Standing as wo do fn America for the rights of small nations to determine their own go eminent, it is with an extra sen.1 e of pro toot Ion and Interest that wo tee tho struggles of the Jugoslavs Jugo-slavs and -Syrians to find an isstie from this war which will give them a ilrm footing on which to stand and which will, a I. the same time, save friction between them and certain of the allies who had expected territorial gain, I-'ranco has promised to look after I"yria, and America undoubtedly is taking a special interest, in the Jugo-SIavs. Rudolph Ru-dolph Trmsht, who is to sail for America Amer-ica tmnuiTow as high commissioner of the Jugo-FIav peoples, tells me that at least three conferences weekly are held with regard to the Jugo-Slav nation, and that Colonel House is giving it his closest attention. Mr. Hoover has been convinced of the necessity of sending immediate food supplies to this section of the Balkans, Bal-kans, ko imminent is the danger oi trouble and of Bolshevism, which follows In the wako of hunger and probably could bo averted. Political Chiefs Meet in London. Tho I'Yench press has been allowed to print very little of the trouble resulting from the Italian occupation of this territory. terri-tory. As has been generally understood by tho secret treaty of London in 1015, it was presumably agreed that the Dalmatian Dal-matian coast, with Tricst, Fiumo and Pola, should belong to Italy. According to a long dispatch which ap-! ap-! pearcd in the fc-eccolo of Milan, after Orlando Or-lando returned from tho recent meeting In London of French, English and Italian military and political chiefs, the old treaty of London was ratified in every respect. It further goes on to state that the territorial terri-torial bjm claries should bo regulated according ac-cording to strategic points. This, 'of course, is only making the secret treaty' public according to the newly expressed desires' of all diplomats. Wilson to Solve Difficult Problem. But since this original treaty was concluded con-cluded Russia has disappeared from among t the controlling powers, and the United 1 States, with all her idealism, has appeared. ap-peared. Chiefly among the fourteen points as regards preliminary steps to a league of nations and the potential discontinuance dis-continuance of war is tho observanco oF this very question of self-determination of small nations. If this is not the first step laid down at tho peace conference, how can thero be any hope of building future Utopian plans, when grantedly the foundations arc those of the old militaristic mili-taristic strategic advantage? Tho other day in tho chamber a radi- ! cal said something about tho league of ' nations, and Clemcneeau cried out: I I "The league of nations! Certainly I I am for it. I don't ask anything better." ! Then, shaking his portfolio of papers up ! and down, he added: "It's right in there, you know. The only , thing 1 don't know is how to make it corne out." Right here on our hands Tve ha e the! first difficulty which it will probably be up to Wilson to solve. And the unfortunate unfortu-nate thing is that whichever way it Is solved, someone is going to be left angry and have a desire for retaliation. When the national Jugo-Slav council sent out its address to the princo regent, Alexandre, it said: "In this historic hour we are profoundly profound-ly sad to be obliged to state that great portions of our national eoII are occupied by Italian troops, who are allied with the allied powers, with whom we wish to live In concord, but we cannot recognize the validity of any contract, not even that of the treaty of London, through which, by violation of the principles of nationalism, we would bo obliged to yield a portion of our nation to other states," i Princo , Alexandre, in reply, said the j first duty of his government would be to seo that true frontiers of their nation were respected, and, "with you, I have tho right to hope that our friends and allies will judiciously appreciate our point of view, for it is one with tho principle which they themselves have proclaimed and for which they shed so much blood. "I am persuaded tho hour for the world's liberty will not be humiliated by putting back under a new yoke so many of our brothers. I hope this view will be recognized by tho Italian government, which owes its birth to tho same principles princi-ples which have been so brilliantly interpreted inter-preted in the thought and action by Italians Ital-ians of the last generation. Find Advantages in Strong Friendship. "I dare say, in respect to these principles prin-ciples and traditions and in the security of our friendship, the Italian people will find more advantage and more security than in the realization of the treaty of London, signed without us, never recognized recog-nized by us and mads wner, tho fall of the Austrian empire was never foreseen." Two days ago, after several appeals had been issued by the Jugo-Slav Socialists Social-ists and the Social Democrats of Italy to Socialists of the world, and particularly to the president'of the United States, this now protestation was sent to Admiral Matchet, commander-in-chief of the allied naval forces at Corna: "The national Jugo-Slavic council has convened to put at the disposition of the entente and the United States all its fleet, as well as its fortifications, on the coast of tho Serbs. Croatiana and Slovenians. The council docs not think, however, that this agreement authorizes the Italian army and navy to occupy alone our ports, our fortifications and our warships and to force the officers of our navy and our (Continued on Page Two.) JUGD-SLAVS IE SYHS II PROBLEM (Continued- from Page One.) garrisons to leave. Italian troops have occupied tiie port of Hebonol and all Us military points, and the Italian Hag flies there. At the same time Italian forces are requisitioning, without inventory, ah arms and clothing found in military warehouses. At Pol a, the Italians are I taking over all our - worships, sending i away our officers and sailors and replacing replac-ing them by their own men." I This ends with an appeal for just ice ! along the liiiea laid down by the conven-1 conven-1 tion. 1 All this seems a long way from us. Wo are inclined to relegate it to one sld"' as an unimportant issue of the war. If I am not mistaken, it is peihnps the most important hinge of the whole league ot nations. There are many Ajnertcans who are wondering why President "WiSsnn came to Kurope and laying his trip to any one of twenty personal motives. My guess may be all wrong, but I suspc-et the biggest reason of all lies across the I Adriatic from Italy. I |