The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-26
tpy the Associated press.,

Paris. April 25.-The peace confer
ence has been severely shaken by the
Italian crisis and the extent to which
its work will be affected is receiving
the anxious attention of the delegates.
The American storm has broken
and the air has cleared in that quar-
ter. but in other quarters a less opti-
mistic view is taken. the feeling being
that an element of confusion has been
introduced which will result in more
or less delay at the moment the Ger
man delegates are arriving in FHench
and italian circle. The situation is re-
garded as serious, and some quarters
even represent ii as desperate, but
/ this extreme view is not generally
| held. Several of the committees met
today with the Italian members pres-
ent and the secretariat of the Ameri-
can delegation said no notice had been
received of the withdrawal of Italian
participation.
Anomalous Situation Created.
/. Pending formal action no break in
relations would be assumed. it was
| added. But the departure of three OF
the Italian delegates and announces
ment of the departure of Foreign
Minister Sonnino and Former Minis
ter Salandra, to occur Saturday. cre-
ates an anomalous situation as IL is
not known whether Italy will be rep
Presented at the plenary session of fhe
conference Monday when parts OF the
treaty including the league of nations
covenant will be finally passed upon.
Reports received here shows that
Premier Orlando's passage thru Turin
and other Italian cities was made tha
| occasion of tumultuous demonstrations
which are expected to culminate in
Rome Saturday.
Final Meeting Dramatic.
| French reports represent the final
meeting between President Wilson and
Premier Orlando before the latter's
! departure as highly dramatic in char
acter One version is that the Italian
prime minister in addressing the
American president said:
You have contested the authority
OF the Italian government before its
people and it is my duty to go before
the representatives of the Italian peo-
pie and say to them:
Decide between Mr.. Wilson and
me.'''.
To this President Wilson is repre-
sented to have replied:
| THAT is certainly your right"
| In American quarters II is said that
the foregoing version of the incident
is probably a reflex Of Premier Or
lando's public statement in which he
referred to the president appealing di-
rectly to the people.
Orlando Left Too Soon?
1t is said that the chances of reach
ing an accord at the final meeting
were good If Premier Orlando had re-
mained a half hour longer but the ap-
proach of the time for the departure
of his train and the feeling that he
should consult the Italian people
finally caused him to withdraw while
the plan that, might have brought
about an agreement was still under
discussion. The basis OF this pre-
sumptiye accord is said to have been
the partial Observation-Disclosures OF
Fiume like Danzig, with the Jugo-
Slavs occupying the Dalmatian n1ain-
land and the Italians the outlying is
lands.
The territorial issue now Is felt to
be less important than the personal
issue which the Italian premier has
raised by his plan for going before
parlia ment and asking a vote of con-
fidence. Should this be given, IL IL
: thought probably in some quarters
that IL would renew the Italian issue
before the council in a more pro-
nounced form than either President
Wilson or the council as a whole has
thus far been willing to admit. Should
it not be given the probable result
would be cabinet changes, bringing a
new delegation with a new policy, to
the conference.
No Economical Pressure on Italy.
There are evidences that Pr sident
Wilson has avoided using anything
which might be construed as econom-
ical pressure upon Italy. aitho sesfis
quarters have suggested this as an ef-
fective weapon. Secretary of the
Treasury Glass has asked a credit OF
/ fConffnued n Isaur n vo,