Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-24
ORLANDO IN NO
MOOD TO TAKE
WILSON ORDER

| sshAiu1N NA~AsA 80 SA-N'
whether secret documents, OF which
many nations participating in the
war were ignorant, are to figure in
the peace following an armistice in
which all the allies pledged them
selves to pay no regard to secret
treaties.
Orlando Absent from Council.
The Italian situation overshad-
owed all other questions through
out the day in Paris and was the
sole subject of conversation in Of
fetal circles.
| When it became known this
morning that the Italian premier
Vittorio Orlando, was again absent
from the session of the council OF
four, various rumors became cur
| rent.
Proposals and counter proposals
were made among the members of
the British, French and Italian del
egations, and numerous stories OF
compromises were circulated. These
were suddenly discredited by the
issuance OF President Wilson's
statement, showing that the presi-
dent was not party to the pro-
posed concessions, which were
chiefly based on the supposition
that Fiume could be, given to Italy.
The idea which had been pre-
| valent in Paris that the Adriatic
situation was a game of chess, in
! which the most skillful diplomats
would win regardless of the armis-
tice conditions, was suddenly ban
ished by President Wilson's actio0.
/ Diplomatists Startled.
Since Monday it had been gen
orally known that he had prepared
statement which was presented
OH that day to the entire American
delegation and that the delegation
had approved it. But there was no
| suspicion that his position was so
unalterably against secret diplo-
macy.
| Declarations by the members of
the American delegation that the
president would not yield on the
matter Of Fiume were regarded by
most European diplomatists, es-
pecially by the Italians, as part of
a political game, until today, and
even now many old-school diplo-
matists seem unable to comprehend
what has happened
| A member of the Italian delega-
ton said that the delegates would
! not leave Paris tonight. He did not
know what action might be taken
tomorrow
Premier Orlando Foreign Minis
ter Sonnino and Salvatore Barzilai,
Antonio Salandra and Marquis
Salvage Raggi, the other Italian
delegates, have been in conference
at their headquarters examining the
situation created by the presidents
| statement.
The facts of the deadlock over the
Italian claims in the Adriatic, ac-
cording to Petit Parisien, are as fol-
lows:
President Wilson proposed that
Fiume, which is not mentioned in
the treaty of London, should be a
free city, but attached to the Jugo-
Slav customs system, and further,
that the London treaty should be
subjected to a total revision.
Italy refused to accept this pro-
posal, whereupon President Wilson
withdrew, leaving Italy alone with
the representatives of the other
signatories of the treaty. During the
meetings of the representatives of
the signatories both Premier Or
lando and Foreign Minister Sonnino
were most conciliatory, Orlando es-
pecially having asked repeatedly on
what condition France and Great
Britain would consent to give Fiume
to Italy. Baron Sonnino said he
was ready to discuss a revision of
the London treaty. ~
| However, President Wilson, who.
while he was not present at the
NEE tings, kept in touch with them,
then wanted to reopen the question
of the treaty of London, but with
out joining the revision to the fate
of Fiume. The president has re-
coded from his first proposal to
make Fiume a free city and is in
clined to give it absolutely to the
Jugo-Slavs.
As to Premiers Clemenceau and
Lloyd George. they are understood
to be ready to adhere purely and
simply to the treaty of London, at
the same time seeking means of
Cancellation.