these companies. The deal which was carried through with
the assistance of the Austrian Government and which, according to the
_Neue Freie Presse_ of February 22, "fully satisfied the needs of
Austrian commerce," was transacted during the Armistice and behind the
back of public opinion. Surely the Austrian mercantile marine, to which
the Yugoslavs contributed the majority of the personnel and which they,
with the other nationalities of the late Empire, helped to build up with
the aid of considerable subsidies, should not have been permitted to
fall an easy prize into the lap of Italy, but ought rather to constitute
an asset in the liquidation of the late Austrian State and a subject of
public discussion.... In consequence of the Italian attitude towards
Austria on the one hand and the Slovenes on the other, the Austrians
made an attack from northern Carinthia near Christmas and despoiled the
Slovenes of about half the territory they had occupied. An American
mission asked both sides to cease from hostilities, saying that the
question of frontiers would be decided by Paris in a few weeks. Two
Americans, who unfortunately could speak neither German nor Slovene,
motored through the country, made some inquiries, especially in the
towns, and departed for Paris. It would have been as well if, like the
French farther to the east, they had deliminated between the two people
a neutral zone. Sooner or later the troubles were bound to recommence.

MAGNANIMITY IN THE BANAT

Meanwhile, of all the lands which the Yugoslavs were inheriting from
Austro-Hungary, that which was passing through the period of transition
with the least disturbance was the Banat. Those Magyars who stayed were
saying wistfully that it had been Hungarian for a thousand years, but
considering what they had done they could not have brought forward a
worse reason for their reinstatement. Here and there at places near the
frontier, such as Subotica, they waylaid and murdered lonely Serbian
soldiers; after which, with the complicity of Magyar officials whom the
Serbs had not removed, they managed to escape to Hungary. But as a rule
they thought it wiser to stay peacefully in the Banat than seek their
fortunes in a land so insecure as Hungary was then. While Count Michael
Karolyi's Government was doing its utmost to cultivate good relations
with France, England and America--printing in the newspapers cordial
articles in French and English, surrounding the Entente