On Great Serbia #233740

Italy's entry into the European conflict seriously affects the successful and satisfactory adjustment of territorial rights among the Balkan Slavs, especially of these within the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.<br><br>If Italy's ambitions materalize, this war, professed to be waged on the behalf of "liberty and justice," will be but a cruel mockery, when applied to Southern Slavs, especially to the Croats and Slovenes, that inhabit the eastern littoral of the Adriatic, for instead of "liberty and justice" they will feel the bonds of oppression and wrong.<br><br>Italy and, seemingly the whole world considers, Istria, Dalmatia and the adjacent islands a part of "unredeemed Italy" (Italia irredenta), Italy's lawful heritage, whose moral title to those countries is not to be questioned.<br><br>Historically and ethnografically, those are purely Croatian countries, which were occupied and held by them since the middle of seventh century.* The Italians in Dalmatia and its islands constitute only three per centum of the total population, and in Istria less than one-third. Does this practically insignificant number of Italians justify Italy's desire and right of making these countries a part of its own body?<br><br>It is the historic past that actuates Italy's ambition in this direction, and it points to this fact in a vague manner as a justification for its selfish schemes.<br><br>The salient historical points that have a bearing on this question are here briefly mentioned. Dalmatia was a part of the Byzantine empire for six centuries (530-1102). Byzantine rule over Dalmatia was practically nominal, especially towards its close. Constantine Porphhyrogenete, states in his book "De Administrando Imperio," the Dalmatian in 887 completely destrowed a fleet dispatched against them by Venice, and for more than a century exacted tribute from the "Queen of Adriatic." In 998 they were finally subjugated by Doge Peter Orseolo II., who assumed the title of Duke of Dalamatia. Later on the Croats dominated there. In 1389 the whole Adriatic littoral from Rijeka (Fiume)to Kotor (Cattaro), except Zadar (Zara) and Dubrovnik (Ragusa) was annexed to the Bosnian kingdom by its founder, Stephen Tvrdko. Subsequent Turkish invasions shook the foundation of the Bosnian realm, and this rendered the Venetian conquest over Dalmatia easy. After 1463 Turkish advance continued, and in 1540 Dalmatia became a Turkish province.