The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-26
WILSON is CALLED
STORM OF HONESTY
Roman Catholic Prelate Gives
His Views Of President in
One Sentence. .,..
ITALIAN CLAM IN TANGLE
London "Times" Correspon-
dent Reviews Situation Over
the Adriatic Controversy.
ny II. wICKHAM sTEED,


by II. wICKHAM sTEED,
Editor Of The London Times. Z
Special Cdeb Dstpafch 10 The seS from fAs
London Times svricc.
ooprt0ht. 1919: al ptshs yeserpsd.
Paris, April 25.---An eminent Roman
Catholic prelate whom President Wilson
received weeks ago when the prospects
OF the conference were dark prepared
Tor him a little address consisting OF
one sentence. which Eas;
THE President Ia q thunderstorm OF
honesty"
In the statement on the Adriatic
question sent by wireless throughout the
world Mr.. Wilson played the part for
which the eminent prelate cast him.
The statement. certainly honest. has
caused a thunderstorm. Though It has
not yet completely cleared the air and
though mirror tempests may follow, Il
IL the beginning of process that may
shortly bring the Peace Conference into
Q purer atmosphere.
The fact that the President prepared
the statement for publication had for
some days been an open secret.
From the beginning the President has
taken and VIII take the position that pub
no engagements publicly entered into by
the Allies must take precedenes OF ante
rlor secret engagements whenever the two
Kinds or engagements were Incompatible.
Consequently the secret treaties con-
clrded by the European Allies In 1915
and 1916 have been regarded by him
- requiring modification In the light Of
tne principles governing the afmistice.
Italians In Dilemms.
The italian delegation atten pied to
escape from this dilemma by asserting
that Mr.. Wilson's principles app led only
70 peace with Germany. but not to peace
With Austrian Germans and Magyars.
II has also insisted upon non-recoenition
o. the new southern siay states by the
rienatories Of the secret treaty Of Lon
don In order to maintain the fiction that
southern Slavs are "enemies' Of the Al
Iies In the same sense as the Germans
afe enemies
Mr.. Wilson and the whole American
delegation have steadily set their faces
against this standpoint. The United
states recognized the kingdom OF the
serbs, Croats and S'ovenes. Mr.. Lam
sing declared In the Council Of Ten that
= the Southern Slav delegates were to
Dc excluded from the sittings OF the
council when the Adriatic question was
discussed the United States must insist
That the Italians also be excluded.
The position Of France and Great Brit.
an has been more complicated. As sir.
nAtories to the London treaty they pro-
fessed themselves as formally bound by
lis provisions. though all Of their experts
Point out the incompatibiiity OF these
provisions with the rostulates of any
sound peace In their heart OF hearts
the French and British Governments
hoped that Mr.. Wilson would one day
release them from bondage by taking a
nrm stand on the basis Of his principies
Ant with exaggerated Journalism they
fefrained from assisting him either di.
fsctly or Indirectly
France Agrees 70 Plan,
BY means upon which n will ons
cay be necessary to throw light, France
was even induced to accent the link
Ing UP Of the Adriatic question with
the questions OF the Saar basin, the
Rhineland and the Rhine Valley. Thus
Chained together France, England and
Italy moved with paralytic shuffie to-
ward the deadlock from which II NAV
be hoped Mr.. Wilson's statement will
help extrcate them. .'-
The first attempt to escape the dead
lock was made when the Southern SlAys
proposed to submit the whole issue 10
Mr. wilson's arbitration This proposal
was foolishly rejected by the Italians
ana the Southern Slavs then fell into
the grfevous error OF putting forward
their maximum ethnosraphical claims.
This mistake afterward the Southern
q tam rfA d
plebiscite throughout the contested
regions. proposal which the Italians
could not be expected to accept. inas-
much as a plobiscite would certainly
nave gone against them in many regions,
which must inevitably be assigned 10
italy by any to'erable ARRANGEMENT.
Meanwhile the American experts
after consultation with their Italian
French. British and Southern Slav COL
ieagues, laid down with absolute i'm
Partially the lines OF what they be-
lleved n just settlement. and in unanI-
nous reports to Mr.. Wilson urged this
settlement be adopted. The Presidents
statement has shown that he at least
mas been guided by the advice OF his
most competent coadjutors.
Uphold American Ideals.
II the question be asked why Mr..
Wilson should intervene at all IN a
purely European dispute, the answer Is
simple. He ha' all along made Il clear
ne could not permit an American peace
settlement to be based on treaties AT
variance with American ideals. BY far
the worst OF these are the secret treaties
OF london
II was constantly recognized by the
Italian and Southern Slav negotiators
alike that II the two countries should be
able to agree on any points Of territory,
M. Wilson as an impartial umpire
would be best fitted to arbitrate between
Them. This agreement. known as the
pact or Rome. was accepted by Mr.. Ian.
sing and formed the basis OF Mr., will
sons subsequent anti-Austrian declara.
tions ana ultimately OF his crushing re.
ply to Austria Hungary shortly before
the armistice.
Since Ita'y threw over the pact Or
Rome. after the collapse Of the Austro.
Hungarian forces to which the pact of
Rome nad-notab'y contributed. and since
the hands OF England and France were
tied by the London treaty. Mr.. Wilson
was the only man who could save Ita'y,
England, France and the Southern Slavs
from the intolerable position into which
the Adriatic question had been allowed
E. to drift.