ITALIAN PARADOXES.

To a mere outsider it would seem as if the situation in Italy were grave, to say the least. The Italian Socialists, who are a frankly revolutionary body, and who have always opposed annexation of the eastern shore of the Adriatic, are said to have won 150 out of 508 seats in the recent elections. But in spite of this, Gabriele d'Annunzio seems to be able to do what he likes with the army, whether the government likes it or not. To a more outsider it would seem a poor time for an Italian Premier to rail at Italy's allies for falling to support Italy's annexationist claims, and at the same time to ask for raw materials from America.

Senator Lodge believes that Italy should have Flume. President Wilson told Italy quite frankly that he believed she should not have Flume; and by far the greater portion of that group of Americans who follow foreign affairs supported President Wilson. Lack of access to the sea is one of the greatest incentives for a nation to wage war; it dominated Russian policy for a century and a half. Flume is the chief and almost the only port in the long expanse of shallow beaches between Trieste and Montenegro. The question is not one of Flume, but of the hinterland of Flume. Is the port more important to the hinterland or to Italy, whose object, says Premier Nitti, "has after all merely sentimental value"? Will not the good will of the Jugoslavs be of more value to Italy than the military domination of the Adriatic?

If the Italian government wishes to reconcile America, it must show that it intends to abide by the decision of the peace conference in regard to the Adriatic question, and that it is prepared to alter its policy as a result of the recent elections. The question of supplying raw materials and credit must depend largely on the improvement of Italy's precarious financial situation. As for d'Annunzio--we would like to see a drive started to raise funds for sending him and his army to capture Shantung for the Chinese.