The sun., 1919-05-30
WILSON INSISTS
ON PLEBISCITE
Orlando Resents Announce
ment That Adriatic Dis
pute Is Settled.
ISTRIAN ALPS AS BORDER
Control Of Territory East
Thereof Left to Peoples by
Presidents Action.
ISTRIAN ALPS AS BORDER
BY Sta6 Correspondent o, TIE suS.
Copyright. 1919; oil rIoht, rsserved.

copyright 1919; oil rights reserved
PARIS, May 29.-Contnry to the
reports that settlement Of the
Fiume and Adrlatic problems has
been reached, the italian situation
again hns become serious, due to the
stand taken by President Wilson. 1t
ls apparent that the British and
French consider the italian problem
so serious that 1t is one of the rea.
sons for holding up the presentation
OF the peace treaty with Austria.
In a desperate all night meeting
Tuesday, in an effort to break the
Italian deadlock, President Wilson
was induced to offer the Italians a
plebiscite in that part Of Austrian
territory which he had refused to
give them. The President consented
to the Istrian Alps MS Italy's eastern
boundary, but conditional upon the
plebiscite to determine the future of
whatever country east Of that line
the Italians wanted.
Italians in Minority.
The Italians have a minority in
this part Of the country and II they
abided by the plebiscite probably
would have to give It up. President
Wilson Is Arm on this point to the
despair apparently Of his colleagues.
In a warn session he insisted that he
never would consent to giving away
peoples as the treaty of London did,
unless they were consulted, and if n
plebiscite were taken, 1t must be by
distinguished groups.
Premier Orlando at this session of
the Council OF Four went back and
forth between his colleagues and the
members Of the council, but the
Italians apparently refused to accent
the suggestion. President Wilson,
the Italians pointed out. has not ap-
piled the plebiscite idea to the mil
lions Of Germans, yet he is assisting
that 1t be applied drastically to the
claims Of the Italians.
"Signor Orlando says that so far
there has been no settlement" This
definite word was received from the
headquarters OF the Italian commits
sion in the Hotel Edward VII, fol-
lowing an intlmation from American
circles that the questions of Fiumo
and Dalmatia had been settled.
Italians Are Mystihed.
The only decision that the Italians
knew had been made Mt the meeting
of the Council Of Four was that of
the definition of the boundaries be-
tween Austria and Italy. involving
the application of the plebiscite.
In all Italian circles ignorance was
professed in regard to "A report that
an agreement had been reached upon
the basis of n plebiscite by units for
the Dalmatlan coast regions to de.
termine whether they were to be Ital-
ian or Jugo-Slav. The Italians ap-
peared TO be nystified and professed
not to understand how these state
ments could be given out In American
circles when the Italians knew
of them.
1t WAS said also that 1t was dis !
when the Council of Four |
in secret sessions we're discussing |
of such delicacy for Italy to
find that the leaks were so many and !
so large. Premier Orlando Is hold !
Ing to the resolution he made when
he returned to Paris from Rome that !
he would preserve complete silence
until the final decision had been made,