South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-18
VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM To
big FOUR" BY ORLANDO
Demands Recognition of Territorials'
Claims-Japan Also Planning to
Press Claim Affecting China
BN ED L. KEEN

PARIS. April IS.-The italian
situation was expected TO reach "a
crisis i'm today's session OF the "oie
four"
Premier Orlando. it was under
stood. planned TO present virtual
ultimatum. threatening tc wreck the
whole peace settlement by diploma
tic sabotage unless Italy's terri
torial claims are fully recognized.
This would be ccOmphshed. ac-
cording TO certain Italians. by re-
fusing 10 accept "a treaty inconsist-
ent with their aspirations. and ai
the same time holding the allies to
their agreement not TO sign "a "sep-
arate" peace.
Despite the seeming seriousnesS
Of the situation. the delegates ap-
peared optimistic OF an amieable ad-
justment before the big -four" ad-
journed.
Even il the Italian crisis is safe
" passed today. the big four .s
expected to be confronted with the
Japanese situation" tomorrow or
Sunday.
Rely on London Pact.
According TO reliable Information.
the Italians have now taken the po-
sition that the pact of London, ore
which their claims are based not
only grants them the entire program
they are demanding but pledges al
the signatories 70 stand together for
a simultaneous peace. As the ltal-
ians see il, they could overturn the
whole peace settlement by refusine
10 accept any treaty not meeiin-
their claims-then calling upon the
signatories OF the pact OF London to
live up 10 their agreement agains'
arranging "a separate peace.
Certain Of the allies led by the
Americans have maintained that
acceptance OF the armistice terms
abrogated all secret treaties. Pres.
Wilson. who has been placed in
position OF virtual arbitrator OF The
rival claims OF the Italians and
Jugo- -Slavs. has made IT known thai
he will not deviate from the stand
that this dispute must be settled
according 10 the IA points
japanese Pushing Demands.
The Jugo-Slav delegation, IL de-
veloped today. has written 10 Pre-
mier Clemenceau. asking that the
future of Fiume and Dalmatia De
solved by a plebiscite. under the
recognized principle Of self-deter-
mination.
The Japanese. in pushing their de-
mands for early settlement of the
Shantung queSio are expected 10
appear before the big four tOmor-
row or sunday. They are insistent
that their claims 90 ratification OF
concessions in the Shantung penin-
sula-which are bitterly opposed pv
the Chinese-be recognized at once
il is understood. General sentiment
however appeared 10 favor tne
+ Chinese in this dispute
Guests Routed Out.
Guests IN the Hotels Natel and
Des Reservoirs at Versailles. were
being ousted today 90 make room
for the German delegates. r. was
believed that quarters IN other h0-
tells might also Doe requisitioncd
According 20 the latest report, OBJ.
enemy representative will be met
only by the "big four -Pres't WI
son. Premier LLOYD George. PremieI
Clemenceau and Premier Orlando
who will formally present the treaty
after which the German delegation
will return with 10 20 Weimar. whore
il will be discussed blythe German
government and possibly the nation
al assem- bly,.
still \ Mystery.
The guarantees understood m
have been given France still re-
main a mystery They are surround
cd by the greatest secrec- and
could not be- ascertained whethr
they viii Dee included in the treaty
or in "A separate agreement. Aside
from the tacit admission that The
guarantees are satisfactory DO was
recalled that AT the last league ~
nations committee meeting Sen.
BOURGEOIS did not mention hls
amendment for am internatioual
army or general STAFF He had been
expected 10 urge this 20 the last, ANA
the fact ne abandoned the idea was
accepted ss conclusive PROOF of the
existence Of other assurances.
Taking the solution OF the Saar
valley problem as a precedent. the
Belgians are proposing adoption ol
o plan for making up their coun-
try's industrial losses. They uree
that a number of German factories
In the occupied area be turned over
10 Belgium and operated for the
Belgians benelt until the iatters
plants are restored. The Belgian
delegation pointed ont THAI one fac-
tory in Liege alone was valued at
Sl5.0OO.000. and is now a total loss
the building having been razed ana
the machinery transported 10 Ger
many.