Republican farmer., 1919-03-28
Decision Apparently Brings to Head Bitter Controv- ersy Over Plume. QUARREL WITH
 JUGO-SLAVS New Nation Claims Cause of Dispute is Essentially
 Creation.

Paris, March 21-(By the
 Associated Press)-The Italian
 delegation to the Peace Confer ence has unanimously decided
 10 withdraw from the confer
 ence unless Plume is assign
 ed to Italy cOntemporaneously
 with the conclusion of peace.
 The decision was reached at a
 meeting today of the full delegation presided over by Premier Orlando It
 was Immediately communicated to
 the Powers.
 Colonel E. M. House, of the Ameri-
 can mission, promised Premier Or
 lando to present within a few days a
 project concerning the ItaIian-Jugo-
 Slav frontier which he hopes will sat-
 isfactOrily settle the dispute.
 The decision of the Italian delega- tion, as reported from Paris, appar- entIy brings to a head the bitter con troversy between Italy and the new Jugo-Slav state over the disposition Of land along the AdTia.tic, formerly A'GAOi+SII15 JO LilG AlS5LIO-f1uTlS6T1an empire, which both nationahties claim
 Italy's claims originally included virtually the entire Dalmation coast, with Triest and Ffune, which latter city is the second principal seaport on the eastern side of the Adriatfc Recent reports have been that the Italian representatives were manifest Ing a disposition to make important concessions regarding the land along the DalLnation coast, provided that the city and harbor of Plume re- manned to Italy. The Jugo-Slavs, however. have been insistent that this port tbe allotted to them, claiming it to be essentially a Croatian city and necessary to the new Jugo-Slav state as affording the only feasible suitable sea outlet for her commerce,
 On the other hand, Italy has shown no disposition to yield her point so far as Plume was concerned Her attitude was officially stated by Pre- mier Orlando in addressing the ItaI- ian Chamber of Deputies on March I. when he declared that while Italy remained faithful to the spirit Of conciliation which inspired the treaty upon which Italy entered the war, that 1t did not mean that she could remain insensible to the appeal reaching her from the Italian town on the Gulf of Quarnero, CFTume), which was exposed to the loss of both its nationality and independ- ence. We do not think" added the premier, that this is possible at the very moment when ii Is wished that the world may be redeemed from 9 memory of violence done to the rights of peoples
 There have been several '1ncidents'' tt Plume and other points in the ter ltory claimed by both Italy and Jugo- 'IaVla, since the signing of the arm stice, and the feud at one time grew o bitter that Italy established a blockade and cut off food relief i'm 'Orts for the interior. This matter 7as adjusted by the Supreme Coun- il in Paris, however, and recent re- orts have indicated that an amicabIe ettlement of the conflicting Italian ugo-Slav claims was possible.
 Just what has caused the Italian elegation to announce its determina- lon on the Plume question at this me has not been developed in the aris adVices. It is known, however lat the question of territorial adjust ents has been for the conferences of reIniers which have been toking ace during the past day or two
 An Associated Press despatch re- eiYed last night from Paris regard ig conference held yesterday be- yeen President Wilson and Preniers lemenceau and Lloyd George stated lat there was every reason to believe lat the frontier issues were among .e foremost obstacles which the con- rees were seeking to remove from e path to a. rapid conclusion of the eace Treaty.
 Plume, before the war, was the lief seaport of the Hungarian king m. It has several harbors, and it's 'sition and facilities made it the seat
 virtually the entire shipping trade
 Hungary. It had an ante-beIlrL pulation of nearly 10000.