Evening star., 1919-04-24

I pledged gave no regard to secret
| treaties
The Italian situation overshaAowed
| all other questions throughout the
| of conversation in official and un-
oficial circles.
When it became known that the
Italian premier. vittorio Qylando
was again absent from the session OF
the council of four various rumors
bsocms current signor Orlando re.
messengers carried his many notes.
Proposals and c0unter proposals.
sSs sssEs:n 1890 ~ ssIsS TsTSer: S.,o Of
sAtfUnbs And numerous stories Of COM
| were suddenly discredited by the is
| suance Of President Wilson's state
| ment, showing that the President was
not party to the proposed conces-
sions, which were chiefly based on the
supposition that Fiume could be
The idea, which had been prevalent
in Paris, that the Adriatfc situation
was a game Of chess. in which the
most skilful diplomats would win, re-
sardless OF the armistice conditions.
was suddenly banished by President
Wilson's action.
Since Monday it had been generally
known that he had prepared q state
nent which was presented on that
day to the entire American delega-
tion. and that the delegation had ap-
proved it. But there was no sus-
picion that his position was 30 un-
alterably against secret diplomacy.
Thought It Political Game.
Declarations by the members of the
American delegation that the Presi-
would 10 re
OF Fiume were regarded by most
European diplomatists, and especially
by the Italians, as part of a political
game, until today, and even now many
old-school diplomatists seem unable
to comprehend what has happened
Premier Orlando Surprised.
Premier Orlando of Italy expressed
profound surprise today at the decla-
ration OF President Wilson. which. he
said. came at a time when he was
about to make a supreme attempt
at conciliation." ---
THE Italian delegates hoping to see
the Italian problem adjusted amicably,"
he continued, might have taken some
other decision than ceasing to COL
laborate in the labors of the confer
ence had this statement not been
issued"
The premier added that he would
aoOTSSS u HlcSSASc 10 INC lIallan pSO-
pie, who, he said, will express them
selves
Concessions Are Made.
Following the publication of Mr.
Wilson's note on the Adriatic question.
newspaper men f1ocked to the Hotel
Edward VII, where the Italian delega-
tion makes it's headquarters. In the
salon reserved for Italian newspaper
men, Premier Orlando received the
correspondents. He recalled to them
the fact that Italy has consented to
all possible concessions regarding the
Dalmatian hinterland, and added that
he had received this morning from
England, France and the United States
over the Italian cities Of Dalmatia,
but refusing to give recognition to
italian claims on Fiume. which would
become free city without mandatory
administration by any power.
THE delegation, having learned that
this was the opinion of President Will
son." he said. declined. in the course
of a meeting, to acknowledge the
declaration of Mr.. Wilson, which was
published this evening, and decided to
address to France and Great Britain,
signatory nations to the treaty Of Lon
don, a letter setting forth the fmpos-
sibility of continuing participation in
the labors of the peace conference. and
expressing regret that the declaration
of Mr.. Wilson had rendered impossible
the last supreme effort toward conctlfa-
tion on the part of Italy. The message
paid homage to the loyalty and fidelity
of France and England"