Signor Bissolati, the patriotic Socialist leader who resigned his office
in the Italian Ministry, made his reasons clear in a recent speech at Milan. While Baron Sonnino stands on the Treaty of London of 1915 and the territorial claims therein confirmed, Signor Bissolati would modify those claims in view of the changed conditions. In 1915 Italy demanded part of Dalmatia from an unfriendly Austria-Hungary; in 1919 Signor Biesolati would leave Dalmatia to the new Southern Slav State— whose friendship Italy would cultivate—and arrange to obtain Fiume instead. He would not insist on annexing the northern part of Trentino up to the Brenner Pass, because a few Germans inhabit that district. He would give up Rhodes and the other islands of the Dodecanese, occupied since the first war with Turkey, to Greece, because the inhabitants are all Greeks. Signor Bissolati urged that gains of territory which turned Italy's neighbours into enemies were not worth having. "If Italy, without obvious necessity, offends German, Slav, and Greek national feelings, she loses the strength she needs to check the selfish and exaggerated claims of others." His courageous speech has caused a storm of indignant protest in Italy. But it points the way to a rational compromise of the Adriatic coast problems. The Southern Slave, after all, owe their freedom in great part to Italy's tremendous efforts in the war, and they could show their gratitude by coming to terms with her. The two races are so inextricably mixed in Istria and Dalmatia that in any case there will be Slays under Italian rule and Italians under Slav rule. Nor will this matter if the two nations are on friendly terms.
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