The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-26
FEAR MORE DELAY
IN PEACE PLANS
French and Italian Headquarters in Peace
Conference Circles Take Very
Gloomy View of Sit
uation.

Paris, Friday, April 25, 5:35 p. m. tBy
the Associated Press The peace con-
ference has been severely shaken by the
Italian crisis, and the extent to which
its work will be affected is receiving the
anxious attention of the delegates. The
American storm has broken and the air
has cleared in that quarter, but in other
quarters less optimistic view is taken,
the feeling being that an element of con-
fusion has been introduced which will
result in more or less delay at the mo-
ment the German delegates are arriving.
In French and Italian circles the sit
uation is regarded as serious and some
quarters even represent it as desperate,
but this extreme view is not generally
held.
Several of the committees met to-day
with the Italian members present, and
the secretariat of the American delega-
tion said no notice had been received of
the withdrawal of Italian participation,
Pending formal action, no break in rela-
tions would be assumed, it was added.
But the departure of three of the Italian
delegates and announcement OF the de-
parture of Foreign Minister Sonnino and
former Minister Salandra, to occur on
Saturday, creates an anomalous situa-
tion, as it is not known whether Italy
viii be represented at the plenary ses-
sion of the conference on Monday when
parts of the treaty, including the league
of nations covenant, will be finally
passed upon.
Reports received here show that Pre-
mier Orlando's passage through Turin
and other Italian cities was made the oc-
casion of tumultuous demonstrations,
which are expected to eliminate in Rome
on Saturday
French reports represent the final
meeting between President Wilson and
Premier Orlando before the latter's de-
parture as highly dramatic in character.
One version is that the Italian prime
minister, in addressing the American
president, said:
"You have contested the authority Of
the Italian government before it's people,
and it is my duty to go before the rep
resentatives of the Italian people and
say to them: Decide between Mr.. Wilson
and me-"
To this President Wilson is represent
ed to have replied;
"That is certainly your right"
In American quarters it is said that
the foregoing version of the incident is
probably a reflex of Premier 0rlando's
public statement, in which he referred
to the president appealing directly to
the people.
1t is said also that the chances Of
reaching an accord at the final meeting
nxI, "A
mained half hour longer. But the ap-
proach of the time for the departure of
his train and his feeling ahat he should
consult the Italian people finally caused
him to withdraw while the plan that
might have brought about an agreement
was still under discussion. The basis of
this presumptive accord is said to have
been the partial Decentralization Of
Fiume, like Danzig, with the Jugo-Slays
occupying the Dalmatian mainland and
the Italians the outlying islands.
The territorial issue is now felt to be
less important than the personal issue
which the italian premier has raised by
his plan for going before Parliament and
asking vote of confidence. Should this
be given, it is thought probable in some
quarters that it would renew the Italian
issue before the council in a more pro-
nounced form than either President Will
son or the council as a whole has thus
| far been willing to admit. Should it not
be given, the probable result would be
cabinet changes, bringing new delega-
tion, with a new policy, to the confer
ence.
There are evidences that President
Wilson has avoided using anything
which might be construed as economic
pressure upon Italy, although some quar-
ters have suggested this as an effective
weapon. Secretary of the Treasury
Glass has asked a credit of $50,000,0 900
for Italy and this request now is on the
presidents desk for final determination.