763.72/10103
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I presume that you read the meaning of this telegram from Page at Rome (No. 1635, May 18) as I do.94 To me it indicates that Italy is very willing to weaken Austria by exciting the Czecho-Slovaks with the hope of independence or at least of self-determination, but is unwilling to encourage the Jugo-Slavs because of their relations with the Serbs whose ambitions and claims over-lap those of Italy along the Adriatic.
The claim that the Serbs and Jugo-Slavs will fall under Austrian influence seems to me a very flimsy argument put forward to disguise the real motive of the Italian objection to giving encouragement to the political aspirations of the Jugo-Slavs. It is all after a piece with the selfish policy which wrecked the Balkan situation early in the war.
Should we, or should we not, listen to Italy, knowing her motive, and give no encouragement to the Slavs of the south? Will the possible dissensions aroused in the Austrian Empire by awaking in those peoples the hope of an autonomous nationality be worth while even though it may not be in accord with the ambitious expectations of Italy as to the eastern shores of the Adriatic?
It seems to me that the Jugo-Slavs are a sufficiently defined nationality to be entitled to self-determination and to have their desire recognized, unless policy prevents.
It all comes down to the expediency of listening to Italy or of recognizing the justness of the Jugo-Slav desire for nationality disregarding the extreme claims of Italy to territory now occupied by Jugo-Slavs.
[Page 130]From the standpoint of principle I think that the Jugo-Slavs and Serbs are entitled to support, but from the standpoint of winning the war a decision is more difficult. Nevertheless I feel that a decision should be speedily reached, because, if the suppressed nationalities of Austria-Hungary are to be aroused, now seems to be the time.
Faithfully yours,