artlett's
commentary on the London Treaty, which is the instrument invoked by the
Italians for their claims to Dalmatia. With regard to Rieka, which, as
everybody knows, was not included even in the London Treaty, Mr.
Bartlett says that while "admitting, for the purpose of argument, that
the seizure has since resulted in an effective possession, yet, as that
is not sufficient in itself to give title, it has no legal or effective
force, but can be compared with nomads squatting on the roadside and
then claiming a right to the soil. Italy was ashamed to assume the
responsibility for the original appropriation of Rieka, which was made
in violation of every legal right of those to whom it belongs, and she
might well be, for a more audacious, unjustifiable proceeding in
violation of every principle of international law it is difficult to
imagine." ... As for the Italian National Council, listen to the
stirring sentences of Mr. Grossich, its old President, after they had
unanimously voted on May 17, and with passionate conviction, an order of
the day directed to Orlando. In that order it was stated that they
looked upon the plebiscite of October 30, 1918, as an indestructible,
historical and legal fact. Grossich exposed the situation and was then
for some instants mute. His voice was trembling when he spoke: "The
sacrifice which circumstances may demand is tremendous, but if it is
required by the supreme interests of Italy we will know how to support
it. More than a citizen of Fiume, I feel myself an Italian" ("Primo che
fiumano mi sento italiano"). At this point the old patriot broke into
tears. "Fiume will defend herself with arms against all those who desire
to violate her will, her national conscience. Seeing that her tenacious,
indestructible Italianity is a grave impediment for Italy in the
attaining of other objects, let Fiume be left to look after herself,
sure as she is of her sons, prepared as she is, to-day more than ever,
to sacrifice herself. She will defend herself against all and from
wherever they come." Those who listened thought that this must mean that
either the _Pester Lloyd_ of April 29 was lying when it printed an
official message stating that General Segre, the Italian representative
at Vienna, had in the name of his Government requested the Hungarian
Soviet Republic to undertake the care of Italian subjects in Rieka, or
else that the Magyars had told him that the 22,000 or 23,000 Italian
soldiers in Ri