Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-04-24
Will SONS DECISION CREATES BIG
SENSATION IN PEACE. CONFERENCE
Declares Emphatically That
He Will Not Yield On
Adriatic Question.
by The Associated press)

tlHpHdtlC ueCldIdllOll ludL ne VIII HOl
yield on the Adriatic question has
created the most profound sensation
! in the peace conference. He has
thrown down the gauntlet to the sup
porters Of secret treaties in a man
ner which almost took away the
breath of the delegates who have
been urging compromises on points
covered by many secret documents
and at variance with the president
IA points.
| President Wilson's sweeping dec
laration, while aimed directly at the
I Adriatic problems, also reaches the
Kiau Chau controversy, in which ia
pan relies on secret agreements made
with Great Britain, France and Italy
in 1917, to support her in her claim
to the concessions held by Germany
in Shantung.
The peace delegates generally re-
gard President Wilson's statement as
dispose of the question whether sec
/ ret documents, of which many ma
tons participating in the war were
| ignorant, are to figure in the peace
! following an armistice in which all
the allies pledged gave no regard to
secret treaties.
, Is Chief Topic.
The Italian situation overshadowed
all other questions throughout the
day in Paris, and was the sole sub
ject of conversation in official and
unofficial circles.
When it became known this MORN
ing that the italian premiers, Wit
torio Orlando, was again absent from
the session of the council of four,
various rumors became current. Sig
nor Orlando remained at Italian
Headquarters, but messengers car
ried him many notes.
Proposals and counter proposals
were made between the members of
the British. French and Italian dele
cations, and numerous stories of COM
promises were circulated. These
were suddenly discredited by the
issuance of President Wilson's state
laent, showing that the president was
not party to the proposed conces-
sions, which was chiefly based on the
supposition that Fiume could be CIV
en- to Italy.
The idea which had been prevalent
in Paris, that the Adriatic situation
was a game of chess, in which the
most skillful Diplomats would win
regardless of the armistice condi-
tions. was suddenly banished by
President Wilson's action.
Knew of Statement.
Since Monday it had been generally
known that he had prepared state
ment which was presented on that
day to the entire American delega-
ton, and that the delegation had ap-
proceed it. But there was no suspicion
that his position was so unalterably
| against secret diplomacy.
Declarations by the members of
the American delegation that the
president would not yield on the mat
ter of Fiume were regarded by most
European diplomatists. and especially
by the Italians, as part of political
game. until today, and even now many
old school displomatists seem unable
to comprehend what has happened.
A member of the Italian delegation
said that the delegates would not
leave Paris tonight. He did not know
what action might be taken tomor-
row.
Premier Orlando, Foreign Minister
Sonnino and Salvatore Barzilai. An
tonic Salandra and Marquis Salvage
Raggi, the other Italian delegates,
have been in conference at their head
quarters examining the situation crea-
ted by the presidents statement.
Issues Statement.
The text of the statement follows:
an view of the capital Importance
of the questions affected, and in
order to throw all possible light up
on what is involved in their settle
ment I hope that the following
statement will contribute. to the for
nation of opinion and to a satisfac'
tory solution.
"When Italy entered the war, she
entered upon the basis of a definite
private undertaking with Great Brit
ain and France, now known as the
pact of London" Since that time
the whole face of circumstances have
been altered. Many other powers
great and small, have entered the
struggle. with no knowledge of thai
private understanding.
Pact Obsolete.
1.-The AuStrO- Hungarlan empire
then the enemy of Europe, and a
whose expense the pact of Londol
was to be kept in the event of vic
tory, has gone to pieces and no long
err exists. Not only that, but severa
parts of that empire, it is agreed
now by Italy and all her associates
are to be erected into Independent
states and associated in league O.
nations. not with those who were re
Gently our enemies, but with Ital.
herself and the powers that stoo'
J with Italy in the great war for lib
erty.
\ eve are to establish their libert.
! as well as our own. They are to b
Il among the smaller states whose in
} terests are henceforth to be safe
guarded as scrupulously as the in