Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-20
BIG -FOUR COUNCIL
DEADLOCKED OVER
ITALIAN PROBLEM
Baron Sonnino Appears Be-
fore Delegates to Pre-
sent Adriatic Claim.
PORT OF FIUME BONE
OF BITTER CONTENTION
Parliament Of Italy Meets Next
Thursday and Action Is
Demanded.
AMERICAN POSITION CLEAR
Treaty Is Said to Be in Excellent
Shape and About Ready for
German Delegates.
AMERICAN POSITION CLEAR
Treaty Is Said to Be in Excellent
Shape and About Ready for
German Delegates.

PARIS, April 1s.-Before the Easter
sun plays It's rays upon the center Of
the Universe, which Is for the present
the Quaf D'Orsay. one side or the ottcr
in the last inter-allied peace clash"
will have yielded or a new nenacins
deadlock will mark the holiday upon
which all have pinned ardent hopes
for a hnal all round agreement
AS this Is written great debate
perhaps the greatest Of tho whole peace
conclave-is on between the big
tour 1t is just a year ago that
struggle in the Venetian plain. and now
her shrewdest and most ambitious
statesman is engaged in, diplomatic
drive" in which he and his colleagues
have proc laimed to all the world there
will be no backward" and no budg-
ing as far as Italy is concerned.
Port of Fiume Bone of Contention.
The prize in this battle of wits and
remote from the blood -drenched fields
and mountain passes and river banks
1t is the port OF Fiume. on the Adria-
light for it and in 1T, did not begin
Empire had cola psed and 'kamerad-
r, But though this port which now is
and Itaiy-,-united. in war but split by
peace-did no, figure in the actual
pact d of Il" h sa
of which fired Italy TO redoubled valor
and saeriiices-and italy now insists
upon her pound Of flesh"
Her spokesman today is not the
democratic, semi-liberal Premier Or
lando who has been her chief advocate
replaced the council of ten. but the
blue blooded conservative. foreign
Minister Baron Sonnino. who through
out the war has been the allies strong
man" and best friend in Italy, but who
has unwaverinsly stood for the re-
demption Of every pledge and promise,
in letter and in spirit
The whole day was devoted to the
Adriatc problem. Everywhere it is
or helpless deadlock before the night
is over.
Italians Not All Harmony.
Whispered rumors arc going the
rounds, based on the peculiar circum-
in the eleventh hour. That all has not
been harmony within the Italian dele
cation has been an open secret for
from the first opposed Oriando's pa
, tient. conciiiatory attitude. has insised
on h6mnsss and on t GnlieS Of mo
Orlando himself is understood to
have been determined throughout not
bulge when this matter came up for
found fault with him for not pressing
it TO that final settlement. They have
to be outwitted by his associates prin-
cipally President Wilson and Premier
Lloyd George.
For Italy time is pressing. and press
ing hard. Thursday the Parliament
meets at Rome. and the government
must give an account OF what II has
done or failed to do at Paris. Strikes
have paralyzed some of the big ltal-
ian cities. Radical socialism is gaining
daily. The economic distress is great;
food and fuel are shorter than ever
and the financial situation is preca-
rious.
Baron Sonnino is at this moment
prophesy this outcome. The Easter
sun may tell the tale.
American Position Clear.
There were reports today that Presi-
dent Wilson would outline precisely
how far the United States is willing to
go In the. Adriatic matter. If he does
he already has made lie the fAsp merien Dor DOT
stion clear with final precision and
defniteness. He told it to Premier
conference. when deadlock in the
big four" resolver itself into tote
aetele between the two men. where
saying the Adriatic question would
take precedence over ali other matters
and pressed 10 final settlement"
treaty In Excellent Shape.
The peace treaty with Germany ia
in excellent shape" President Wilson
allowed hmsel flo be quoted late to-
day.
Fast progress has been made during
the week in putting the final touches
on the terms with Germany, and the
document will he finally drafted by
Wednesday at the latest.
Every effort is made to guard the
secrecy fthc treaty until II has been.
submitted To the German plenipot en-
tiaries
The German delegates to the peace
congress are coming to France by way
of Spa. Belgium. TO which point they
will travel in their own conveyances,
says the Petit Journal today. At Spa.
however, a special train provided by
the French authorities will await them
and their journey thence will be madc
under military guard. At Versailles a
military delegation will receive them
and conduct them TO their lodgings.
The German representatives then. It
states. Will be treated courtcously, but
Will be regarded rs enemies as long
the peace treaty remains unsigned
They Will not be allowed to go about
as they please, nor will newspaper men
be permitted to interview them, on
pain of being charged with communi-
eating with the enemy.
Considerable speculation Is taking
place regarding the possibility OF the
German delegates refusing to Sign the
treaty. In case they should refuse,
says Marcel Hutin In the Echo de
Continual on second Mccoy