The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-24
VIEW WILSON'S STEP AS
DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT
LONDON PRESS SPEAKS OF
"APPEALaTO CAESAR
s'B5fnbshsif ana @Thunder-
bolt" Among Expressions
Used to Describe Action.

London, April IA thunderbolt,"
"a bombshell." IAN appeal to Caesar
and other descriptive expressions are
used by this mornings newspapers In
connection with President Wilson'S
declaration on the Italian situation.
The presidents step is treated as
dramatic development at the peace
conference by most of the journals.
Apparently halted temporarily by as
tonishment, some newspapers refrain
from making any comment.
Everywhere Mr.. Wilson's action is
regarded as having created a most
serious situation, the unfolding of
which will be watched with anxious
interest. Such editorials as appear
were manifestly written with an eye
to Italy's possible withdrawal from
the conference, though Premier Or
lando's announcement of his decision
to quit Paris had not reached London
when the papers were published.
Opinions as to Mr.. Wilson's state
ment and Italys attitude vary. The
Graphic, while disclaimIng any hos
tility to Italy, refers to her "obdurate
attitude" and advocates the Croatian
claims to Fiume. 1t heads it's news
columns with the caption Italy Jeop-
ardizing Peace"
"Momentous Innovation"
The ThrnDIHla nlncpG fhn N
from the peace conference the head
Wilson's Stirring Appeal for Small
Nations" but is editorially perturbed.
Without opposing President Wilson it
calls his action "strong step" and a
"momentous innovation" The ed
itorial takes a sympathetic attitude
toward ltaly's position, although it is
admitted the issue is one upon which
opinions can be honestly held. "Mr
Wilson's appeal from the diplomatic
table to the general public may at
first sight commend itself as conso-
nant with democratic statesmanship,"
the editorial reads. THE result in
making an exception in ltaly's case
to past secrecy is 10 create a danger
for the whole league of nations
which, the newspaper adds, may, if
ence virtually terminated before It is
begun"
The Daily News, under the heading
"The Breaking Point" calls attention
to "the grave crisis"
Except as Last Resort.
. A conviction that President Wilson
would never have taken such a step
except as a last resort arter the fail
ure of all private negotiations is
voiced by the Express. 1T would be
idle to speculate on what win Iol-
low" the newspaper says. THE two
antagonistic principles which have
been more or less in veiled conflict
throughout the deliberations of the
conference are now met in a death
grapple. One or the other must yield
and the defeat of either will in all
probability be final. If Mr.. Wilson's
principles prevail all claims such as
those italy is now advancing must be
abandoned permanently. lf, on the
other hand, Premier Orlando's claims
are recognized, then there Is an end
to the principle of self-determinatlon
everywhere"
The Express declares the situation
is very serious, but maintains that IN
questions which threaten the confer
ence with disaster. "the press and the
public have no power TO give any sort
of Judgment" 1t urged the British
to blindly and unitedly support Pre-
mier Lloyd George as the nations
representative