The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-10
HAS NOT GIVEN IN
Washington Calls Reports OF
Fiume Settlement "FictiOn.'
President Has Not DeViated
From Original Stand.
"BIG -FOUR" BUS YON PROBLEM
Discount Report League To Act
as Mandatory for Fiume.
Report China May Not Sign
Fails To Stir Conference.

Washington, May 10.-Reports from
Paris that President Wilson had com
mitted himself to a proposal to settle
the Fiume dispute by giving that port
to Italy after 1928 were said in dis
patches to the White House today to
be absolute fiction"
1t appeared from today's advices
that the president had not devtated in
the slightest from his original stand
in opposition to Italy's claim to TINS
Adriatic port.
Other dispatches from Paris said
the president would personally ad-
dress congress and discuss the whole
subject matter" of the Paris negotia-
tions Immediately after his return to
the United States. 1t is understood
that the president is being urged by
his advisers to make a speaking tour
over the country after he addresses
congress
Paris, May 9.-It IS understood that
the council of four is continuing its
study of the Fiume question on the
basis of the agreement reached rela-
tive to the future status of the Saar
region.
ment of the Saar region provides that
for fifteen years prior to plebiscite
it will be administered by a commits
sion under the auspices Of the league
The Austrian peace treaty is rapidly
assuming form.
Rejection Means RcvOlutiOn?
Thomas Nelson Page, American am
bassador to Italy, who arrived here
from Rome yesterday, was expected
to tell President Wilson that he be-
lieves final rejection of Italys de-
mands VIII precipitate revolution in
that country.
The big four has turned the ter
ritOrial section of the Austro- h ungar-
ian terms over to the council of for
eign ministers. Altho the latter body
had the matter under consideration
yesterday, 10 announcement was
Forthcoming regarding any findings 1t
may have made.
When the Italian delegates first re-
turned to Paris a report was circulated
that a tentative agreement had been
reached by the other allied leaders to
internationalize Fiume under the
league of nations for a period of years
-variously estimated at from two to
ten-after which it would revert to
Italy. During this period another port
was to be equipped for the use of the
Jugo-Slavs that they might be recon-
pensed for the loss of Fiume.
United States Denies Compromise.
That such a compromise was ever
acceded to is now denied in American
quarters. 1t is further contended that
no invitation of any sort was issued to
the Italians to return and that they
came back solely on their own initia-
tive. The Italians explained unoffi-
cially that their return was necessi-
tated thru regard for the other allies,
Germany having questioned the valid
ity of treaty in which the Italians
would not participate.
AS a consequence, it would appear
the status of the Italian question is
just where it was when Premier Or
lando and Minister Sonnino first de-
parted from Paris with the single eX-
ception that Orlando has since re-
ceived a vote of confidence from the
Italian parliament
Reports that the Chinese have been
advised by the Peking government not
to sign a treaty which turns the for
mer German concessions in the Shan
tung peninsula over to Japan-as de-
cided by the big three''-have failed
to create any particular apprehension
in peace circles. Members of the
American commission expressed con-
fidence today that when the time came
the Chinese would sign the treaty
without further opposition. They
pointed out that China gains far more
under the league of nations than she
loses thru the concessions to Japan
and that she cannot afford to remain
outside the league. '
Austrians Arrive Next Friday.
Paris, May 1O.-The Austrian peace
delegates will leave Vienna on Mon
day and reach Paris proba bly, Wednes-
day, the French foreign office was
advised today. Previous advices had
indicated that the Austrian delega-
tion was expected to reach Paris
Monday.