South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-28

The Italians demanded possession Of
the city Of F1ume on the ground that
its population was largely Italian.
while the JugOslavs maintained that
possession of this port was essential
If their newly organized nation was
10 have access 70 the sea. on Feb.
II the Jugoslav delegates requested
Pres't Wilson to act as arbitrator OF
the dispute, but on Feb. rs the
italian delegation declined to accept
any proposal for arbitratlng their
claims TO the Dalmatian coast.
The Japanese delegates also gave
an early indication OF their attitude
by insisting upon Japan's right TO
retain the Marshall and Caroline Is
lands which she had taken from
Germany
TERMS FOR
GERMANY.
The first indication Of Vie sever
ity Of the terms TO be imposed upon
Germany was given on March 10,
when the supreme war council an
nounced an agreement upon the
proposal 10 limit Germanys army
in the future TO 100. 900 men. with
provisions designed to prevent in
tensiye training of large numbers Of
soldiers.
Pres't Wilson returned TO Paris
after spending little more than a
week i'm the United States. With
his arrival IN France, on March L..
the peace conference began CON
sideration of recommendation Dy
various committees, and the peace
treaty began 10 take definite shape.
ON March 15 Prest Wilson am
nounced thar despite proposals that
had been made 20 that effect there
had been no change in the plan TO
include the League Of Nations cove
nant IN the peace treaty.
on March "a the council OF 10,
which had been considering the
chief problems before the Peace
conference, was replaced by "A coun-
ell Of four, consisting Of Pres't Will
son and Premiers Lloyd George
Clemenceau and Orlando. From
that time up to the actual signing
Of the peace treaty all Of the prob
lens arising were disposed of by
this council Of four. in which. al
times. the premier Of japan also
participated.
At this time there had arisen a
number Of problems so difficult TO
handle that It seemed possible at
times that the peace conference
might be unable 10 reach a settle
ment on March p it was reported
that the italian delegation threaten
ed TO withdraw from the conference
unless the port OF F'iume was award
ed 10 Italy. On April . Baron Ma
kino. head Of the japanese deIesa-
ton, declared that no AsiatiC ma
ton coull be happy in a League Of
Nations in which sharp racial dis
elimination s maintained. on
March II Sec'y Lansing. speaking at
diner in honor OF the American
peace delegation, had given warning
that the imposition Of too harsh
terms upon Germany would cause
the spread of bolshevism and an
archy. on the other hand. on April
the majority Of the house Of COM
mons sent a telegram 10 Lloyd
George, reminding him OF his cleo
ton pledge TO force the utmost in
demnity from Germany, and on April
10 members of the French senate
signed a resolution expressing the
hope that full restitution and repair
alton for damage would be exacted
from the enemy and that the full
cost Of the war would be imposed
upon those responsible for it.
WILSON'S RE
PORTED THREAT.
On April . report that Pres
Wilson had summoned a steamer TO
take him home was thought 20 indI-
cate that a hopeless deadlock had
/ arisen among the council Of four.
but during the next few DAYS there
were other ind cation that the many
disputes before the council Of four
might be settled satisfactorily. on
April y il was reported that
Frances claim 10 the Saar valley. IN
reparation for the destruction OF the
French coal mines by the Germans.
had been settled by giving 10 France
perpetual control Of the mines in the
Saar Valley on April Il Pres't VIII
son announced, on behalf OF the
council Of four. that complete solu-
ton Of all problems was 20 near
| that German delegates would be in
vited 20 meet with the peace con
I ference at Versailles on April 25. II
was soon apparent. however. that
a hnal settlement OF all problems
was not so near as had been be
| lIeved. IL was found impossible 20
| reach a satisfactory agreement upon
the claim or the Italians and Jugo-
| slavs for the Adriatic coast. and on
April 20 Prest Wilson withdrew
from further participation in the
! discussion Of this subject. on April
! % the president issued a statement
| explaining his reasons for insisting
that the port OF Fiume should b
given 10 the Jugoslavs. Premier
! Orlando OF italy issued a statement
! in reply 10 Pres't wilson's on April
la. and on the following day the
\ three principal members OF the
/ italian delegation, Premier Orlando
/ Foreign Minister Sonnino and for
/ mer Premier Salandra, withdrew
/ from the peace conference as a pro
test against the appeal that had