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Show PEACE PROGRESS. Tlie fact that Italy has relinquished lior claims to tho Iodocanez islands, off tho Asia Minor coast, in favor of Greece has brought to an end ono of the most acute controversies before the peace conference. Tho population of these islands is almost exclusively Greek. They were taken from Turkey by Italy prior to tho last Balkan war, and their seizure was conquest pure and simple. If allowed oelf-determiua-tiou the islanders would join Greece without doubt. A plebiscite, however, has been rendered unnecessary by the voluntary action of Italy. The island of Cyprus, also off tho coast of Asia Minor, which came into tho possession of Great Britain at the division of spoils made by the Berlin peace conference con-ference in 1S7S, is also Greek, and should be given to the Hellenic kingdom king-dom without qualification or negotiation. negotia-tion. One of the results of the relinquishment relin-quishment of tho Dodocanez islands will bo to improve Italy's chancos for obtaining concessions in the Adriatic dispute. Colonel House is negotiating with Premier Orlando and Count Macchi di Cellere, ambassador to the United States, and it is said that the outlook is hopeful. At the samo time it was Btated in official circles that ovoroptimisoi at present should be discouraged. dis-couraged. So far as known, President Wilson is still opposed to giving Fiume to the Italians, and it looks as though some other basis of settlement will Have to bo reached. It will be a great triumph for Colonel Honso if he is able to reach an amicable settlement with tho Italian delegates without sacrificing sacrific-ing the rights and destroying the aspirations as-pirations of the Jugo-Slavs. The Austrian peace delegates will exchange credentials with tho allied and associated powers at 3:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The ceremony will not bo so dramatic as the scene presented when the German delegates appeared at Arersailles, but it will be of absorbing interest nevertheless, since it marks the passing of one of the most ancient and powerful empires of Europe. Austria, having already been practically dismembered, the indemnity in-demnity clause of the peace treaty provides pro-vides for a payment only one-twentieth as large as thct demanded from Germany. Ger-many. Tho sum asked is 5,000,000,000 gold marks, without bond. As Austria Aus-tria is bankrupt, tho delegates of the allies at Versailles doubtless reached the conclusion that it would be worse than useless to demand any more. Indeed, In-deed, the victorious countries will be fortunate if the Austrians pay the 5,000,000,000 gold marks during the next half century. There docs not appear to have been any opposition to the landing of the Greek troops at Smyrna, and it is not probable that tho Turks will make any attompt to resist when sentence is pronounced pro-nounced against them. The chances for an early peace are therefore very promising, prom-ising, if the Germans sign the treaty and the United States senate takes action ac-tion within a reasonable length of time. |