ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF DALMATIA AND OF THE DALMATIAN ISLANDS AND OF THE
CURZOLA ISLANDS
STAFF. SECTION OF PROPAGANDA, No. Prot. "P." SEBENICO, _April_ 18, 1919.
The section of propaganda of the Government of Dalmatia, whose object is
the rapid diffusion of Italianity in this noble region which gives at
last to Italy the complete dominion over the most bitter Adriatic, has
set before itself a vast programme of truly Italian action ... it is
therefore necessary to give these latter certain advantages ... it has
been suggested that Italian schools be favoured ... that offices be
opened for the gratuitous or semi-gratuitous distribution of food, that
presents be given to the indigent population, that fetes and spectacles
be organized.
[Signature illegible.]
These two documents give some indication of the plan of campaign. One
might mention, by the bye, that during this period there was a great
shortage of food-stuffs in Italy; large quantities were being sent from
the United States. The Yugoslav Government at Split complained of the
disastrous social and moral results of these proceedings. It gave rise
to many abuses and to a clandestine trade. On the young it had, for
example, at Split a most unhealthy influence; all they had to do was to
go on board the _Puglia_, the Italian flagship, whether their parents
allowed them or not, and there they were given both provisions and cash.
As elsewhere in the world there are at Split a number of idlers and
scamps, who seized this opportunity; another class of person, who had
erstwhile been regarded as Austrian spies, did not hesitate a moment to
proclaim that they were the most ardent Italian patriots. All these
people were ready enough to give their signatures to anything in return
for the Italian bounty, and to endeavour to persuade others to do so; in
that way the Italians collected 6000 signatures, whereas the Italianists
of Split were, at the outside, 1800; at Trogir, where the Italianists
numbered 80 to 100, they collected more than 1000 signatures.