The Pittsburgh Press (July 17, 1946)
Editorial: Free advice to Italy
Italy’s attitude toward the United States has become one of self-righteous distrust because of a feeling that we sold the Italians out to Russia by agreeing to internationalize Trieste and its environs, according to our European correspondent, Ludwell Denny, now in Rome.
Americans, for the most part, regret that Italy did not get all she wanted in the Trieste compromise. But the Italians will hurt only themselves and their friends by letting their emotions run away with their judgment.
When there are serious issues between nations, a point can be reached where it becomes a question of compromise or fight. Italy and Yugoslavia are nearing that danger line regarding Trieste. And Italy is not in a position to fight Yugoslavia. Fighting Yugoslavia would mean fighting Russia, too, and Italy does not pack that much punch.
The United States and Britain did the best they could for Italy in the Trieste dispute. If the Italians can make a better deal for themselves at the European peace conference, more power to them. But if they push the argument too far, and lose rather than gain by it, the responsibility will be theirs.
The Italians in Trieste are doing their cause grave injury by demonstrations against American and British forces there, and by engaging in clashes with the Yugoslavs. Our troops are in Trieste in the interests of fair play and a square deal. But if American lives are lost at the hands of the very people we seek to protect, our position will become untenable.
Marshal Tito and his boys would like to see the Americans quit Trieste and all of Italy. The Italians can make it unanimous, if they want to. But we question if that is their mature judgment.
Moreover, if they will look back over the past six years, they will see that the western Allies are not solely responsible for their present predicament. A man named Mussolini had something to do with it.