Letter Copies on Dalmatia
Title
Letter Copies on Dalmatia
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP15792
Date
1919 June 10
Description
A copied letter from the Yugoslav governor of Dalmatia, and a copied report from the governor of Italian occupied Dalmatia.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Copy
Dear Sir:
I have the honour to send you this remarkable document which illustrates very clearly how the Italians are fully aware themselves that this country if Jugo-Slav and that the inhabitants have helped to bring about the downfall of Austria, a fact which was never expressed by them publicly. It also confesses the actual purpose of the Italian propaganda in this country which they consider primitive.
I think you will find it very interesting from every point of view, for which reason I have ordered it to be translated. I shall felel very much obliged to you if you would kindly send a copy to Paris, where this private order might be compared with Italian publications in all the foreign newspapers in the question whether the inhabitants of this country are Jugo-Slavs or not, and whether they have the Croats (Jugo-Slavs) have cooperated in precipitating the down-fall of Austria-Hungary or not, both these facts of very great importance.
President of Provincial Government for Dalmatia
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TO THE OFFICERS OF OCCUPIED DALMATIA
The duties and responsibilities of the present hour in the occupied territories are such with regard to the present and future that is opportune and necessary that the officers should take steps themselves to acquaint themselves with the precise situation, and to inspire themselves both in the exercise of their duties and also in their private conduct, with directive principles as suggested by the situation and imposed by their double quality of Italian and Officers.
The officer should place himself in a clam and dignified fashion outside and above the disputes which divide the sentiments of the local puopulation. And in accounting psicologically and historically for detestations and aspirations of either party, he must regard the situation with the serene mind of judge, in order to be able to maintain in all his acts that element of dignity and equanimity by which alone he can obtain the gratitude of the one side and the respect and admiration of the other. The position of Officers is extremely delicate above all in small centres. It is known that outside the towns the population in its great majority and often also in its totality consists of Jugoslavs or Slavs of the South that is say Croats or Serb-o-Croats. It is a people of another race, of that formidable Slav race, which for centures has been pressing against the west ahtirst for liberty and eager for the sea; people with psicology, a mentality civilization, habits, traditions, a national consciousness and a quite special individuality. This population is fondamentality good as simple and primitive people are. But the simple and primitive people are also extreme sensitive, suspicious and violent in their impulses. The asperity of the political dispute between Italy and Jugoslavia, the peculiar events which with the collapse of Austria, have determined the present situation the hatred fomented by the late regime, the work of agitations and a vsgenebt campagny of lies and of hostile fanaticism, have however up to the present produced and effect of only passive nature. These few hints are sufficient to indicate the delicacy of the situation. May Heaven preserve the officers from not taking these things to account and from letting themselves be guided solely by their Italian feelings, that is to say from that state of mind, which might have been formed by a one sided estimate of the actual conditions. Firm nerves, sang-froid and evenly balanced mind are required in order to prevent the hostility of the population from causing as a reactionl, resentment and a spirit of revolt, vengenaance and of oppression on our part. The officer between the two sides, must be acquainted with the animus of the one party and the hostility of the other so that he may prepare himself and become and element of moderation and pacification with the object of calming down and obviating the bitter feelings which have been created and fed by a past that is and must be wiped out for ever. And to dissipate that hostility which while determined by a political situation and events, have been and is being incited and strengtened by blind passsions and an artificially created campaign of interested parties.
In the accomplishment of his duties he must join to the firmness oto the dignity which are demanded by his office, an exquisite sense of judg,ment and righteousness from which are born the courtesy of manners and the generosity of acts and words. It must be remembered that this is the first contact which the population as yet primitive and uncultural in its mass, has had with Italy, in which it instinctively sees the enemy and the new oppressor. We must do our best to make them see in Italy their friend and liberator. From the first contact there will be born the first emotions, the first sentiments which, because of their being the first, are stronger and will remain profoundly engraven in the primitive minds. It is therefore evident and it leaps to the eyes of all how delicate and important istt is the moment of this first contact. Nothing more than a superficial knowledge of these circumstances is needed for the officer to understand that in all his official and personal acts he must behave in such manner that the population which is primitive and simple and therefore all the more susceptible to suggestions, should regain the impression that Italy is a great country, the country of liberty and right, that its people is educated and civilized, that its officers and soldiers are hre to fulfil a work of civilization and education of love, in a country which must be Italian on account of historic rights and for the exigencies of Italy’s defense in which the Slavs who have been introduced by the course of events and by the effect of the expansive potentiality of their race and the artifices of those who dominated the country, will find in the independence and the development of their nation,ality a great fatherland which is civilized, powerful, humane and free and in which the Croats shall no longer be slaves as under Austria, misused for the purposes of a cruel and absurd predominance, buut free citizens of a great State which will have only one aim; the welfare and progress of all mutually, respecting each other, in a common love, a fraternity which will be consolidated with the disappearance of all mistrust and all hatred which Austria has aroused in order to divide and rule.
In estimating the ennemities of the Croats, the fact must be taken into account, that the croatian (world), I mean to say the Croatian people, with its action in the interior of Austria, while the Italian army was acting outside resolutely and victoriously, has cooperated in precipitating the downfall of Austria and in freeing itself from a detested regime; that particularly in the last year of the war this sentiment of nationality became accentuated with the fervent aspirations for liberty which was gained in consequence of events inspired and unhoped for (success of the Serbian arms). These are the circumstances which have determined a special psicology, composed of joy and ecstacy, both elements which in minds which are laden with all the influences of the East, produce a facile and dangerous excitement. On the other hand there survives in the Italian population the hated against Croatian supremacy, a hatred which is comprehensible but which in time and with the action of moderating elements, must give place to other sentiments which render possible a fair coexistence of the two populations, whose aim should be common, the property and the development of Dalmatia in the prosperity and for the prosperity in the greatness and for the greatness of Italy. From this picture it must be instantly clear to every officer that his duty here is something more than his ordinary duty as he has known it in norman conditions of peace and as he has known and fulfilled it in the very hard vicissitudes of the war, but it is a truly mission of civilization for the coexistence of all the peoples in the new arrangement which the war has brought about, and which the Leagaue of Nations will definitely lay down.
Especially the officer who is charge of administrative work must awaeken impressions which are naturally caused by the sense of justice for all, his severity must be good, his goodness must be severe, and from every act there must transpire the dignity which comes from the might and right of Italy, the kindess and generosity, which comes from the virture of the race, from the knowledge of the situation, from the conscientiousness of duty. It is obvious that the conduct of the troops, that has no great a moral reaction, must be inspired by the officer, with his admonition. There already exists an impression on the part of the Croats that Italians are good, that Italy is strong, but generous, great, civilized, worthy of respect and love. Especially to young officers who for reasons of service often occupy posts very delicate and have frequent contact with the populus, I recommend the greatest caution in taking the initiatives and decisions, which being apparently of no significance, may give us cause to great reaction, but may go against the general lines of our propaganda and our political procedure. As in our country the army was the school of the nation so here we are of the opinion that the best propaganda the most effications because spontaneous and unexpected is made by the officers and his men. The Italian officer with his inorb kindness and generosity of his mind and with the harmony of manners which distinguish him, obtains very easily the sympathyies of this population, a sympathy however for an optimist may become dangerous. The young officers must not forget that they propagators of Great Jugoslavia still exercise with their megalomania a potent influence on the primitive population and that a gesture, a work, an attitude of theirs may yet even indirectly, favour the Serbo-Croatian cuase and make-difficulty in the exhibiting of our task of civilization. In a few cases a gesture which was not sufficiently pondered upon has exposed to reidicule some one experienced one. Officers who probably were too young and not serious enough have invited to feats and entertainments persons belonging to Jugoslavs families who did not accept the invitation. Before going beyojnd considerations of social conveniences, it shall be advisable to study accurately the matter and assure oneself of a good success of the gesture. The Italian officer is here the pioneer of the great Italian mission. He must be fully aware of it and he must be rproud and worthy of it. The officer who shall not pay proper attention to what is essential in these pages as to his task, has obviously failed to appreciate the delicacy of his office and shall give an instance as to what abyss is between the mechanical execution of a prescribed duty and the fervor of the passion for the Fatherland, which is the only force that can tame arbitrary initiative and strengthen the moral totality.
P&C Colonel of H.M. Vitale
Vice Admiral Governor E. Mill
Dear Sir:
I have the honour to send you this remarkable document which illustrates very clearly how the Italians are fully aware themselves that this country if Jugo-Slav and that the inhabitants have helped to bring about the downfall of Austria, a fact which was never expressed by them publicly. It also confesses the actual purpose of the Italian propaganda in this country which they consider primitive.
I think you will find it very interesting from every point of view, for which reason I have ordered it to be translated. I shall felel very much obliged to you if you would kindly send a copy to Paris, where this private order might be compared with Italian publications in all the foreign newspapers in the question whether the inhabitants of this country are Jugo-Slavs or not, and whether they have the Croats (Jugo-Slavs) have cooperated in precipitating the down-fall of Austria-Hungary or not, both these facts of very great importance.
President of Provincial Government for Dalmatia
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TO THE OFFICERS OF OCCUPIED DALMATIA
The duties and responsibilities of the present hour in the occupied territories are such with regard to the present and future that is opportune and necessary that the officers should take steps themselves to acquaint themselves with the precise situation, and to inspire themselves both in the exercise of their duties and also in their private conduct, with directive principles as suggested by the situation and imposed by their double quality of Italian and Officers.
The officer should place himself in a clam and dignified fashion outside and above the disputes which divide the sentiments of the local puopulation. And in accounting psicologically and historically for detestations and aspirations of either party, he must regard the situation with the serene mind of judge, in order to be able to maintain in all his acts that element of dignity and equanimity by which alone he can obtain the gratitude of the one side and the respect and admiration of the other. The position of Officers is extremely delicate above all in small centres. It is known that outside the towns the population in its great majority and often also in its totality consists of Jugoslavs or Slavs of the South that is say Croats or Serb-o-Croats. It is a people of another race, of that formidable Slav race, which for centures has been pressing against the west ahtirst for liberty and eager for the sea; people with psicology, a mentality civilization, habits, traditions, a national consciousness and a quite special individuality. This population is fondamentality good as simple and primitive people are. But the simple and primitive people are also extreme sensitive, suspicious and violent in their impulses. The asperity of the political dispute between Italy and Jugoslavia, the peculiar events which with the collapse of Austria, have determined the present situation the hatred fomented by the late regime, the work of agitations and a vsgenebt campagny of lies and of hostile fanaticism, have however up to the present produced and effect of only passive nature. These few hints are sufficient to indicate the delicacy of the situation. May Heaven preserve the officers from not taking these things to account and from letting themselves be guided solely by their Italian feelings, that is to say from that state of mind, which might have been formed by a one sided estimate of the actual conditions. Firm nerves, sang-froid and evenly balanced mind are required in order to prevent the hostility of the population from causing as a reactionl, resentment and a spirit of revolt, vengenaance and of oppression on our part. The officer between the two sides, must be acquainted with the animus of the one party and the hostility of the other so that he may prepare himself and become and element of moderation and pacification with the object of calming down and obviating the bitter feelings which have been created and fed by a past that is and must be wiped out for ever. And to dissipate that hostility which while determined by a political situation and events, have been and is being incited and strengtened by blind passsions and an artificially created campaign of interested parties.
In the accomplishment of his duties he must join to the firmness oto the dignity which are demanded by his office, an exquisite sense of judg,ment and righteousness from which are born the courtesy of manners and the generosity of acts and words. It must be remembered that this is the first contact which the population as yet primitive and uncultural in its mass, has had with Italy, in which it instinctively sees the enemy and the new oppressor. We must do our best to make them see in Italy their friend and liberator. From the first contact there will be born the first emotions, the first sentiments which, because of their being the first, are stronger and will remain profoundly engraven in the primitive minds. It is therefore evident and it leaps to the eyes of all how delicate and important istt is the moment of this first contact. Nothing more than a superficial knowledge of these circumstances is needed for the officer to understand that in all his official and personal acts he must behave in such manner that the population which is primitive and simple and therefore all the more susceptible to suggestions, should regain the impression that Italy is a great country, the country of liberty and right, that its people is educated and civilized, that its officers and soldiers are hre to fulfil a work of civilization and education of love, in a country which must be Italian on account of historic rights and for the exigencies of Italy’s defense in which the Slavs who have been introduced by the course of events and by the effect of the expansive potentiality of their race and the artifices of those who dominated the country, will find in the independence and the development of their nation,ality a great fatherland which is civilized, powerful, humane and free and in which the Croats shall no longer be slaves as under Austria, misused for the purposes of a cruel and absurd predominance, buut free citizens of a great State which will have only one aim; the welfare and progress of all mutually, respecting each other, in a common love, a fraternity which will be consolidated with the disappearance of all mistrust and all hatred which Austria has aroused in order to divide and rule.
In estimating the ennemities of the Croats, the fact must be taken into account, that the croatian (world), I mean to say the Croatian people, with its action in the interior of Austria, while the Italian army was acting outside resolutely and victoriously, has cooperated in precipitating the downfall of Austria and in freeing itself from a detested regime; that particularly in the last year of the war this sentiment of nationality became accentuated with the fervent aspirations for liberty which was gained in consequence of events inspired and unhoped for (success of the Serbian arms). These are the circumstances which have determined a special psicology, composed of joy and ecstacy, both elements which in minds which are laden with all the influences of the East, produce a facile and dangerous excitement. On the other hand there survives in the Italian population the hated against Croatian supremacy, a hatred which is comprehensible but which in time and with the action of moderating elements, must give place to other sentiments which render possible a fair coexistence of the two populations, whose aim should be common, the property and the development of Dalmatia in the prosperity and for the prosperity in the greatness and for the greatness of Italy. From this picture it must be instantly clear to every officer that his duty here is something more than his ordinary duty as he has known it in norman conditions of peace and as he has known and fulfilled it in the very hard vicissitudes of the war, but it is a truly mission of civilization for the coexistence of all the peoples in the new arrangement which the war has brought about, and which the Leagaue of Nations will definitely lay down.
Especially the officer who is charge of administrative work must awaeken impressions which are naturally caused by the sense of justice for all, his severity must be good, his goodness must be severe, and from every act there must transpire the dignity which comes from the might and right of Italy, the kindess and generosity, which comes from the virture of the race, from the knowledge of the situation, from the conscientiousness of duty. It is obvious that the conduct of the troops, that has no great a moral reaction, must be inspired by the officer, with his admonition. There already exists an impression on the part of the Croats that Italians are good, that Italy is strong, but generous, great, civilized, worthy of respect and love. Especially to young officers who for reasons of service often occupy posts very delicate and have frequent contact with the populus, I recommend the greatest caution in taking the initiatives and decisions, which being apparently of no significance, may give us cause to great reaction, but may go against the general lines of our propaganda and our political procedure. As in our country the army was the school of the nation so here we are of the opinion that the best propaganda the most effications because spontaneous and unexpected is made by the officers and his men. The Italian officer with his inorb kindness and generosity of his mind and with the harmony of manners which distinguish him, obtains very easily the sympathyies of this population, a sympathy however for an optimist may become dangerous. The young officers must not forget that they propagators of Great Jugoslavia still exercise with their megalomania a potent influence on the primitive population and that a gesture, a work, an attitude of theirs may yet even indirectly, favour the Serbo-Croatian cuase and make-difficulty in the exhibiting of our task of civilization. In a few cases a gesture which was not sufficiently pondered upon has exposed to reidicule some one experienced one. Officers who probably were too young and not serious enough have invited to feats and entertainments persons belonging to Jugoslavs families who did not accept the invitation. Before going beyojnd considerations of social conveniences, it shall be advisable to study accurately the matter and assure oneself of a good success of the gesture. The Italian officer is here the pioneer of the great Italian mission. He must be fully aware of it and he must be rproud and worthy of it. The officer who shall not pay proper attention to what is essential in these pages as to his task, has obviously failed to appreciate the delicacy of his office and shall give an instance as to what abyss is between the mechanical execution of a prescribed duty and the fervor of the passion for the Fatherland, which is the only force that can tame arbitrary initiative and strengthen the moral totality.
P&C Colonel of H.M. Vitale
Vice Admiral Governor E. Mill
Original Format
Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Letter Copies on Dalmatia,” 1919 June 10, WWP15792, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.