New-York tribune., 1919-03-23
Hope for Solution OF
Filtn,e Controversy
N0,U Rests on Wilson,

fAklS, MSrch - tby Inc Associated
Press) There is no hint yet as to the
character OF the plan under considera-
ton by Colonel Edward NJ. House for
& settlement of the Fiume problem. but
day or two.
The Italian delegation has answered
ali advances aiming at establishment
Of the eastern frontier without assign
ing Fiume to Italy by declaring that
any such solution, even if accepted by
the delegates here. would be useless,
since mother the Italian Parliament
nor people would ratify such an agree
mcnt for abandonment of what they
consider "the indispensable completion
Of the mother country"
Hope is expressed in peace confer
ence circles thar by the first of next
week d plan Will be presented which
VIII surmount the difficulty. President
Wilson has the whole question before
him, and it is from him that the plan
upon which hope of satisfactory
settlement is based is looked for.
The action of the Italian delegation,
taken as unit. amounting virtually to
an ultlmatum directed to the Supreme
Council. gave great concern to othen
delegations
1t has been known for soma time
that the Italian delegates were appre-
hensive that any programme adopted
by the Supreme Council which contem-
plated the relegation of the Italy
,Iugo-Slav controversy to the league
OF nations, when it is formed, OR even
its consideration by the Supreme Coun-
Gil after the completion of the peace
treaty with Germany, would seriously
leopardize Italian claims. The fear
has been expressed by some of the
Italian delegates that Immediately
after the conclusion of the German
treaty President Wilson, Premier Lloyd
George. and perhops other leading fig
ures in the Council, would leave Paris,
and the remaining members of the
Council would not have full powers to
deal with Italian demands The state
of mind of the Italian public is de-
clared to be such that the failure of
the Italian delegation to return from
Paris speedily with title to Fiume and
the Dalmation coastal islands might
easily have grave internal results, ac-
cording to statements by some of the
delegation.
Propaganda Used
Thus, for many weeks they have
been simply flooding other delegations
ents with literature to support Italian
claims. This melted the Serbian dele
cation in Paris to very sharp re-
sponses, which were given to the
press ard which denounced Italian
contentious as being in absolute vio-
lation of President WilsoHesD4s..four
teen points" because they deny Rccess
to the sea to the Jugo-Slav population
in the interior. %
historically and economically the port
of Fiume and the Immediate vicinity
are Italian. The Italians claim that
the eastern Adriatic coast must also
go to Italy as a military measure to
insure protection to exposed Italian
cities on the western shore,Hof the
Adriatic.
The Supreme Council is called upon
indirectly, in deciding this issue. to
pass upon the validity of secret treat
les negotiated in London in 1915, some
of which at least are held to be at
variance with Mr.. Wilson's fourteen
rassed by the probable effect of any
decision it may make in the Fiume
case upon Greek and French claims
to the Smyrna coast, Polish claims to
Lemberg, and Polish claims to
Danzig.
Seek to Fix War Claims
The whole question will go before
President Wilson for consideration
and solution. It's removal as the Sc
rious danger mark in the conference
proceedings is hoped for, it was said
tonight. 1t is expected he will pre-
sent some plan by Sunday.
A possible solution of the problem
now under consideration is that mill
tary experts of the Supreme Wal
Council, who have discharged them
selves of German war issues, should
at once consider the Italian claims
under instructions to present a solu-
tion in time to secure action upor
them simultaneously with the dispo-
sition of the German peace treaty.
One difficulty in the way is the lacl
of competent government in Aus
tris with which to negotiate. Another
is the distribution among the new
states formerly part of Austria of the
proper share of war indemnities which
they must assume. In the meantm,
Rear Admiral Philip Andrews, wht
has been in command of the American
naval base at Cardiff Wales. Is coins