A Bluff Called ?

The dispute between Italy and Yugo-Slavia over Fiume-- (TIME, Sept. 3, Sept. 17) varied in ratio last week to the temperature of the respective national temperaments.

Premier Mussolini had given the Belgrade Government until Sept. 15 to ratify an agreement reached by the Italo-Yugo-Slavian Commission on Fiume, whereby the political and administrative Government of Fiume is entrusted to Italy, Sussak and Porto Barros to Yugo-Slavia, with the proviso that both places are attached to Fiume for 99 years; the Free State to be governed by a mixed supreme government composed of delegates from Italy, Yugo-Slavia and Fiume. Last Week Mussolini began to mass troops in Istria, intending no doubt to scare the Belgrade Government.

The Belgrade Government, after taking stock of Italy's position in the Italo-Greek dispute, refused to ratify the agreement. After many rumors relative to YugoSlavia's proclivity for warfare, she finally filed the Treaty of Rapallo and the Convention of Santa Margherita with the League of Nations in accordance with Article 18 /- of the Covenant.

This move had the effect of calling Mussolini's bluff on Italian pretensions. Instead of resorting to war he followed Yugo-Slavia's suit in filing the Italian copy of the Rapallo and Santa Margherita documents with the League. He then made a new offer to Yugo-Slavia, the terms of which were not published. It is understood, however, that for the present both parties will neither invite nor accept outside arbitration of their differences, but if they are eventually unable to reach an agreement the entire Fiume question may be placed before the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague.

Meanwhile the Depoh Provisional Government of Fiume resigned in despair, and Italy appointed General Giardimo, third in command of the Italian Army, Military Governor of the Free State. Signer Attilio Depoli, ex-head of the Fiumian Government, said, in his note to the Italian Government announcing his resignation, that " Fiume had hoped the Genoa Conference would arrange a settlement of the situation under which Flume's desire to be allowed to exist as an Italian city would be recognized." He continued that Fiumian aspirations had been thwarted by the Santa Margherita Convention and that the long delay in settling the status of Fiume and the consequent interference with political parties and city officials had combined to make his position intolerable.

*Fiume is composed of the Port of Fiume, Sussak, a suburb, and the Port of Barros, contained in an area of eight square miles. Fiume was created an Independent State Nov. 12, 1920.

/= " Every treaty or international engagement entered into hereafter by any member of the League shall be forthwith registered with the Secretary and shall as soon as possible be published by it. No such treaty or international engagement shall be binding until so registered."