Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-04-30
Situation Created by Wilson's
Declaration Not Considered
as Serious.
PRESIDENT IGNORES RULERS
italian Enjoys Vexed Because Ameri-
can Executive Addresses the Peo-
pie Over the Heads of Their
imperiaIist Rulers.

Washington, April 25.-The situa-
ton eerated by President Wilson'S dec
laration of opposition to Italy's claims
to Ffume may not be as serious as 1t
appears on the surface.
An exaggerated Importance may be
given to any withdrawal from Paris
of Italy's representatives. While their
withdrawal admittedly would be re-
a regretable development, the best-in-
formed opinion here is that it would
not necessarily endanger a peace to
which all the allies, including Italy,
would agree.
To be plain the suggestion is thrown
out here by well-informed diplomats
that the decision of Orlando, Sonnino
and their associates, may be designed
principally to "save their faces" with
their own countrymen and not to mani
fest to the other peace delegates in
Paris their irrevocable disposition
against any compromise of Italy's
claims.
Italy at Fever Heat.
Italy has been worked up to fever
heat over the acquisition of Fiume. If
Orlando and Sonnino had reached the
conclusion that it was impossible to
satisfy Italy's demand for possession
of the beautiful port of the QuarnerO,
the declaration from President Will
son that the United States would not
accede to the demand might not have
been entirely unwelcome to the Ital-
ian statesmen, hard-pressed as they
are with threats of revolution unless
they achieve all Italy asks.
They will be strengthened al LONE
by the fact that they had been IN
yielding. 1t is much better for them
that their allies have denied their
claim than that they themselves should
have surrendered.
They have now passed the RESPONSE
bility for the future course of Italy
from themselves to the Italian people.
The belief here is that President
Wilson did not issue his statement un-
til he had a very definite understand
ing with Lloyd George and Clemen-
ceau as to the position Great Britain
and France were prepared to take
with respect to Fiume.
The president in his statement called
attention to the fact that "Fiume is
not included in the pact of London, but
there definitely assigned to the Croa-
tians."
And in connection with this state
ment of the president, it is important
to read the cable announcement that
LLOYD George and Clemenceau noti-
fed Orlando that, if Italy insisted
Great Britain and France would rec
ognize the London pact as a binding
obligation.
France and England Back Wilson.
If Italy is only to get what she was
to get under the London treaty, she
will not get Fiume. The announce
ment by Lloyd George and Clemen-
ceau to Orlando, therefore, was mere
ly diplomatic way of informing him
that Great Britain and France would
support the position of the United
States with respect to Fiume as
against that of Italy.
Tt is known here that Clemenceau
and Lloyd George saw President Will
sons statement three days before it
was made public, and approved it.
The view taken here is that the un-
compromising stand assumed by Italy,
If persisted in, is bound to prove more
serious for Italy than menacing to the
character of peace which the United
States, Great Britain and France are
of q mind TO make.
The thing that rolled the Italian del
egates most about the presidents
statement was that Mr.. Wilson adj
dressed the italian people virtually
over the heads of their representatives,
procedure which they denounce as a
fragrant breach of international Dip
Iomstic etiquette. All Italian peace of
ficials interviewed emphasized this.
Said one member of the delegation:
"Wilson has treated the Italians the
same as the Germans, ignoring their
rulers in speaking to the people"
That same charge is conspicuous in
Orlando's pronunciamento.. When the
attention of member of the American
peace mission was directed to it. it be
came more than ever apparent that the
time for diplomatic sophistries is def
nitely passed and that unprecedented
frankness has taken the place of 'in-
ternational courtesy" Said this Off
cial:
eThat is exactly what President Will
son intended, inasmuch as the italian
rulers are imperialists. They wouldn't
listen to reason. Whether the italian
people will do so is, l admit, uncer-