Lord Cromer, who is President of the Society, disposed in
his speech of the absurd illusion that the Society is hostile to Italian aims. Naturally, he said, the Italians desired a predominant influence in the Adriatic. He hoped that that ambition would be gratified, and he saw no reason why it should not be compatible
with the satisfaction of all reasonable South Slav aspirations. The Society did not, presume to be an arbitrator, but existed only to collect and publish facts. If, however, the occasion arose for the Society to help to smooth over the difficulties between Slave and Italians, the opportunity would be welcomed. The great object in view was to create a solid block of non-Teutonic people as a barrier to further Teutonic aggression. The amalgamation of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in a united people is, in our judgment, one of the principal things which statesmanship should work for. The war arose out of the South Slav question, as we often ventured to predict it would. In a South Slav settlement we shall have the best pledge against its repetition. The peace of Europe in future depends upon a successful assertion of the principles of the Serbian Society. In that object Italy is as much interested as any other Power.
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