Evening star., 1919-04-23
WILSON EXPLAINS
WHY F|UME MUST
NOT co TO ITALY
Declares Conditions Con.
cerning Adriatic Settlement
Have Changed During War.
PORT NATURAL OUTLET
FOR CREATED STATES
Asserts Dalmatian Islands Are Not
Essential, as Teutonic Naval
Menace No Longer Exists.

Essential, as Teutonic Naval
Menace No Longer Exists.
PARIS, April z3.-In a state
ment issued by President Wilson
today explaining his position on
the Adriatic question he declares
that Fiume cannot become a part
of Italy.
The President points out that
every condition concerning the
Adriatic settlement has been
changed since Italy entered the
war upon the promises of the
past of London, the Austro-
Hungarian empire having disap-
peared. He notes that new states
have been created from which
Fiume is the natural outlet to the
sea.
The President also contends
that the strategic necessity
pleaded in behalf of Italy's claim
to the DaImatian islands no
longer prevails, as the Austrian
naval menace has ceased to exist.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 23.-rhe German
delegates to the peace congress
probably will leave Berlin on April
3, and will arrive In Versailles On
May I, according to q nessaEe
from Berlin transmitted By the
Zurich correspondent Of LTnforna.
tion.
LONDON. April 2s.-Premier Or
lando threatens to return to Italy to-
day unless there is a satisfactory ad-
justment Of the Fiume and Dalmatian
questions. Premier Lloyd George Of
Great Britain is trying to persuade
the Italian leader to remain in Paris
while he continued his efforts to rec
oncfle the opposing viewpoints.
PARIS. April zs.-Ths Italian dele
cation to the peace cenfsrence reas-
serted today it's discrimination to stand
firm on the question OF Ffume indi-
eating that unless the council changed
it's position the delegation would not
return to the conference.
Premier Lloyd George tried unsuc-
cessfully during the discussion last
night to reconcile the viewpoints Of
President Wilson and Premier Orlando
known today.
Light on Deadlock.
The facts of the deadlock over the
italian claims in the Adriatic. accord
ing to the Petit Parisien are as fol-
lows:
President Wilson proposed that
Fiume, which is not mentioned in the
treaty Of London. should be free
city. but attached to the Jugoslav Gus
toms system. and further that the
a total revision.
Italy refused to accept this proposal.
whereupon President Wilson with
drew. leaving Italy alone with the
representatives of the other sigma
tories Of the treaty. During the meet
ings of the representatives Of the
signatories both Premier Orlando and
Foreign Minister Sonnino were most
Orlando especially having
asked repeatedly on what condition
sent to give Fiume to Italy. Baron
Sonnino said he was ready to dis
cuss a revision of the London treaty.
MT. Wilson Changes Stand.
However, President Wilson who.
while he was not present at the meet
ings, kept in touch with them, then
wanted to reopen the question of the
treaty of London. but without joining
the revision to the fate of Fiume. Tho
President has receded from his nrst
proposal to make Fiume tree CITY,
and is inclined to give 1t absolutely
to the Jugoslavs.
AS to Premiers Clemenceau and
Lloyd George, they are understood
be ready to adhere purely and simp
to the treaty Of London. at the SAM
time seeking means Of conciliation.
An early settlement Of the dificulty
is consequently thought to be i'm
probable. especially as President Will
son is understood to be equally as
firm as the Italian representatives
Would Not Bottle Jugoslavs.
PARIS, April 22.-President Wilson
is infiexible in his position that Fiume
shall not be annexed to Italy, thus
bottling up Jugoslavia.
Although Premier Orlando will
probably not attend the meetings OF
the council Of four Immediately, the
allies apparently are hopeful that an
agreement may be reached by mutual
The Indignation of the Italian dele
CATION is as strong against the Brit
ish and the French as against the
and after the failure OF
Premier Orlando again today to ap-
pear at the meeting of the council OF
four the break between the Italians
and the allies became well defined
The suggestion is widely circulated
tonight in Paris that Great Britain and
France cannot sign a peace treaty with
Germany IL Italy refuses because un-
der the London agreement no member
of the entente is to sign separate
peace. The suggestion. however. ap-
parently has not had any great effect
on the negotiations, as the delegates
expressed the opinion that no single
nation can afford to hinder peace
to the provisions OF the
armistice broadly. and that rights un-
der secret treaties will be lightly re-
garded by the peoples who are clamor-
ing for a settlement of the world war
The Italian premier. Vittorio Or
lando. while not attending the session
of the council, had a series OF private
and arranged a meeting
with Premier Lloyd George. with a
view to seeking a plan Of adjustment.
One compromise proposed to the
Italians, making provision for the
OF their claim to Ffume in
exchange for the abandonment OF
their claim to the Dalmatian coast.
was rejected.