pulation, by its
own desire and by natural right, belong to Italy and should be brought
within the nation.

10. _The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we
wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest
opportunity of autonomous development._

Within the Austro-Hungarian boundaries are several nationalities which
have been subjected to the oppressive rule of peoples different from
themselves. Their attempts to obtain home rule or independence have been
crushed. America now wishes to secure for these peoples the opportunity
to establish governments for themselves. As we have already seen, our
country in 1918 formally recognized the independence of one of these
peoples--the Czecho-Slovaks, or inhabitants of Bohemia and neighboring
districts. Moreover, in a note to Austria-Hungary, October 18, 1918,
President Wilson stated that conditions had changed since January 8, and
intimated that both the Czecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs should be
given independence.

11. _Roumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated, occupied
territories restored, Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea,
and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined
by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance
and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and
economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan
states should be entered into._

We have here a comprehensive plan for the settlement of the Balkan
jealousies, which have disturbed Europe for many years. Evacuation and
restoration is here proposed, as in Belgium and France. Serbia, always
thwarted by Austria in her hopes for a port, is to be given access to
the sea. Friendly counsel shall be given the Balkan peoples to aid them
in establishing their governments along the lines of nationalities and
of historic sympathies. All the countries of the world should unite to
guarantee and protect the safety and independence of the governments
established in the Balkan region.

12. _The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be
assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now
under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and
an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the
Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships
and commerce of all nations under intern