The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-30
WILSON WAS WRONG IN
APPEALING TO PEOPLE
Old Line Bureaucrats Of Europe
Cannot Break Away From
Secret Diplomacy and Adopt
Democratic Methods. z

tJuIne ana the OalfIidl1o4t CodSS e.lA1
does not arpear1in the form OF an
ultimatum.
Premier Orlando declares that
President Wilson's proclamation is an
attempt to place the government in
opposition to the people.
..de is treating the italians" adds
the premier, as if they were bar
bareus people, without democratic
government"
The premier rebukes the president
for addressing himself to the italian
government, and says he never con7
sidered America bound by the treaty
of Lndon but thatU Italy's case is
based arther on right and justice.
The premier says he has never de.
MED that the pact of London did not
apply to Fiume, but the Italian claim
was based on the principles Of Presi-
dent Wilson's IA points.
Following is the text Of Premiel
Orlando's statement:
.sY esterday, while the Italian dele
CATION was discussing counter pro-
positions which had been received
from the British prime minister and
which had for their aim the concilia-
ton Of contradictory tendencies which
were manifest concerning Italian ter
ritorial aspirations the Paris newspa-
perS published a message from the
president Of the United States IN
which he expressed his own thoughts
on one sof the gravest problems
which had been submitted to the
judgment Of the conference.
'oaThe practice Of addressing nations
directly constitutes surely an innova-
ton in international relations. I do
not wish to complain, but I wish to.
record it as precedent, so that at
my own time I may follow it, mas
much as this new custom doubtless
constitutes the granting to nations Of
larger participations in international
questions, and, personally, have al
ways been of the opinion that such
participation was the harbinser or
new order. Of things.
Nevertheless, if these appeals are
to be considered as addressed to ma
tons outside OF the governments
which represent them Il might say
even against the govcrnments).
should feel deep regret in recalling
that this process, heretofore applied
to enemy governments, is today ap-
piled for the first time to a govern
ment which has been, and intends to
remain a loyal ally Of the great
American republic, namely. to the
Italian government"
Premier Orlando says that he might
complain that such a message ad-
dressed to the Italian nation had been
published at the very moment when
the allied and associated powers We're
negotiating with the Italian govern
ment, the help of which had been
sought and appreciated in numerous
serious questions heretofore discussed
Z in intimate and complete solidarity
above ALL" he confines, II should
have the right to complain if the dec
larations Of the presidential message
have the purpose to oppose the Italian
people to the Italian government, be
cause it would misconstrue and deny
the high degree OF civilization which
the italian people has attained and its
democratic and liberal regime. To op-
pose the italian people and govern
lnent would be to admit that this
great fee nation would submit to the
yoke of a will other than its own, and
7 should be forced to protest strongly
against suppositions unjustly offensive
TO my country
Referring to President Wilson's
statement, Premier Orlando says it
entirely purports to demonstrate that
the Italian claims beyond certain linn
its laid down in his message violate
the principles upon which must be
founded the new regime of right, JUS
tice and liberty among peoples. The
premier adds that he never denied
these principles and that even Presi-
dent Wilson would do him the justice
to say that in the long converse tions
they had had together he (Orlando)
had never relied upon the formal au
thority of treaty by which he knew
President Wilson was not bound, but
merely relied on reason and justice
upon which Italy's claims were based.
Signor Orlando deplores that he
could not convince President Wilson
justice and truth are the monopoly Of
no man. and that all men err. The
conference. he points out has had to
change it's mind many times and he
does not think himself disrespectful
by asking it to change it again.
II consider as unjustifeG the appli-
cation that in his statement Presi-
dent Wilson makes Of his principles
toward the Italian clains.' Orlando
continues. "It is impossible for me in
a. document Of this nature TO repeat
the detailed arguments which have
been produced in Italy's behalf.
might simply say that no one will re-
ceive without reserve the affirmation
that the collapse Of the Austro- Hun
sarian empire should imply the re-
duction of Italian aspirations"
Citing the presidents argument
that the conce ssions granted to bring
ITALY to it's natural defenses, the
Alps, Signor Orlando said:
.sThis recognition is of great inn