New-York tribune., 1919-04-25
Premier Charges Wilson
Treated Italians Like
a Barbarous Race, and
Not as True Democracy
e" "Arraigns People
Against Rulers
Insists Claim to Fiume
Hews to His Ia Points:
Strong Friend of U. S.

PARIS, April "a (By The Associated
Press ).-Vittorio Orlando, the Italian
Premier, issued lengthy statement
to-day replying to President Wilson,
in which the Premier said in so manv
words that he was compelled to with
draw from the peace conference after
President Wilson'S action, which was
regarded as a departure from diplo-
matte custom and left the Italians no
other course
The statement says nothing of the
intention of the Italian delegation to
quit the peace conference. 1t merely
states ltaly's case concerning Fiume
and the Dalmatian coast and does not
appear in the form of an ultimatum.
Bitterly Criticises Wilson
Premier Orlando declares that Pres
ident Wilson's proclamation is an at
tempt to place the government in op-
position to the people.
He is treating the Italians" adds
the Premier, "as if they were a bar
barous people, without a democratic
government"
The Premier rebukes the President
for addressing himself to the Italian
people over the head of the Italian
government, and says he never consid-
cred America bound by the Treaty of
London, but that Italy's case is based
rather on right and justice.
The Premier says he never has de-
MED that the Pact OF London did, not
apply to Fiume, but that the Italian
claim was based on the principles of
President Wilson'S fourteen points.
Orlando's Statement
Following is the substance Of Pre-
mier Orlandos statement:
yesterday, while the Italian delega-
tlon was discussing counter PROPOSE
tions which had been received from the
British Prime Minister. and which had
Tor their aim the Cancellation of CON
Trajectory tendencies which were mani
tested concerning Italian territorial'a as
plratlon, the Paris newspapers pub
lshed message from the President of
the United States in which he ex-
pressed his own thought on one of the
gravest problems which has been sub
mltted to the judgment of the CON
ference.
The practice of addressing nations
directly constitutes surely an innova-
tlon IN international relations do
not wish to complain, but wish to
record 1t as precedent so that at
my own time may follow it, mas
much as this new custom doubtless
constitutes the granting to nations of
larger participations in international
questions, and, personally, | have al
ways been OF the opinion that such
was the harbinger of
new order Of things.
Regrets Method Used
'Nevertheless. il these appeals are
10 be considered as addressed to ma
tionS outside OF the governments which
represent them II might say even
against the governments should
feel deep regret in recalling that this
process, heretofore applied to enemy
governments, is to-day applied for the
hrst time to government which has
been and intends to remain loval
ally of the great American Republic
namely, to the ltayian government"
Premier Orlando says that he might
complain that such d message addressed
to the Italian nation had been pub
llshed at the very moment when the
Allied and associated powers were
negotiating with the Italian govern