The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-22
SOLUTION OF
FIUME CASE
TO BE MADE
BY WILSON
Supreme Council Hopes to
Pass Danger-Mark of Ital-
ian Claims Today-Ultima-
tum Causes Concern.
ACTION IS DEMANDED
(By Associated Press)

pressed last night in peace conference
circles that by the first of next week
| plan would be presented which
would surmount the difficulty in the
| way OF completion of the peace max.
Ing work Of the conference raised by
the threat of Italy to withhold approv-
al or any peace treaty not definitely
settling the Italian-Jugo-Slav contro-
versy. President Wilson has the
| whole question before him and it is
from him that the plan upon which
hope Of a satisfactory settlement is
based is looked for.
The action of the Italian delegation
taken as a unit, amounting virtually
to an ultimatum directed to the SUI
preme council, gave great concern to
other delegations today. Although
the supreme council was occupied with
consideration of the western Polish
boundary. the premiers, themselves
with Colonel E. M. House, were en-
ga ged in trying to find some solution
to the very difficult problem present.
ed by the action of the Italians.
Apprehensive Of Program
1t has been known for some time
that the Italian delegates were ap-
prehensive that any program adopted
templated the relega ton of the Italy
Jugo-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
jeopardze Italian claims The fear
has been expressed by some of the
Italian delegates that Immediately
after the conclusion of the German
treaty, President Wilson, Lloyd George
and perhaps other leading figures in
the council would leave Paris and the
remaining members of the council
would not have full time to deal with
Italian demands.
The state of mind of the Italian
public is declared to be such that the
failure of the Italian delegation to
return from Paris with the title to
Fiume and the Dalmatian coastal is
lands might easily have grave inter
nal results, according to statements
by some of the delegation.
In Violation of Terms.
Thus for many weeks past they
have been simply flooding other dele
cations and the officers of foreign
correspondents with literature to sup
port the Italian claims. This melted
the Serbian delegation in Paris to
very sharp responses which were Civ
en- to the press and which denounced
Italian contentious as being in abso-
lutte violation of President Wilson's
fourteen points" because they deny
access to the sea to the Jugo-Slav
population in the interior.
The Italian claim, of course. is that
racially, historically and economical
ly the north of Fiume and the imme-
diate vicinity is Italian. They claim
that the Eastern Adriatic coast must
also go to Italy. as a military meas
ure to insure protection to exposed
Italian cities on the western shore of
the Adriatic.
The supreme council is called upon
indirectly, in deciding this issue, to
pass upon the validity of secret treat
les negotiated in 1916, some of which
at least ire held to be at variance
with Mr.. Wilson's fourteen points"
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 Lem
berg and Polish claims to Danzig.
POfHpI NCttOH F1OpcO.
The whole question will go before
President Wilson for solution and con-
sideration. Its removal as the SER
ious danger mark in the conference
proceedings is hoped for. it was said
tonight. 1t is expected he will pre-
sent some plan by Sunday. One pos
sible solution of the problem now un-
der consideration is that military ex-
perts of the supreme war council,
who have discharged themselves of
German war issues, should at once
consider the Italian claims under in
structions to present a solution In
time to secure action upon them SIM
ultaneously with the disposition of
the German peace treaty. One diff
Guilty in the way is the lack of
competent government In Austria
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 mean
time Rear Admiral Phillip Andrews,
who has been in command of the
American naval base at Cardiff,
Wales, is going to the Adriatic to
take command of the American forces
there, relieving Rear Admiral Albert
P. Niblack.
Because of President Wilson's de-
sire to attend the sessions both of the
council of ten and the league Of ma
tions commission, today's peace con-
ference program was reversed. The
council met at II o'clock this morning
while the league Of nations body,
whose session originally had been set
for 10 o'clock this forenoon will meet
at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
In connection with the league of ma
tions commissions session to consid-
er the various amendments to the
leagues covenant which have been
proposed, the text Of the amendment
provided by the Swiss delegation to
the conference of neutrals.
Delegates to the conference of neu-
trails devoted considerable time today
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