The Washington herald., 1920-02-19
President Soon to Answer
Note on Italo-J o-Jugo7SIav
Problem.
COMMENT Is REFUSED
Message Said to Deny Any
Intent to Ignore u. S. In
Seeking Solution.

. q communication on inc
Adriatic settlement Both the White
House and the state Department re-
fuse TO comment upon its nature. In
dications, however are that the door
Is not closed to America for fresh dis
cussion on the Italo-Jugo Slav prob
lem.
Meanwhile. the allied powers have
extended the ultimatum served O.,
Jugo-Slavia. The extension is de-
pendent upon the Presidents answer
TO the new note OF the allies and their
disposition of it. The Presidents re-
Tly, il is generally expected, will not
b. long = going forward
The allied note Wa, at the
state Department ye IN a-s-
bassador Davis at Ii afe fr-
mediately decoded 81 .-u- a.
President. SubseqU s. BHTa GtN-
House and the StaI J..r-u ,lr ,.a-
nounced that no Off -ar SD
be given, out. But l. .-.. y.-E '5srusf
that the allies had zlg s-a5E {. hoy
objected to the publ s.,s- ~ sac -.- G.
Gus notes in this C a.sr.
Allies ExpHaz I"-iy0l.
officials here ar a '.r.... .-sll
reports from abr s1 t..f lr gHr.
munication from
tersely sharp and uncv "..f.-.
tone. Whether the note is really "a
second thought" substituted for "A
sharp and less conciIiatory docu-
ment, cannot be learned with GER
tsinty. Dispatches from abroad
said that Eiscount Grey and Lord
J Robert Cecil had brought about a
moderation" of the first and pos
sibly impulsiVe composition. al
though both deny the charge.
In their reply the allies explaln
their ultins tum TO Jugo-SJagis. aud
I II not eXcusing it try to show eN-
tenuating circumstance for IL.
They say that the Italo-JuEo-
SIav controversy had reached an abb
sclute deadlock and no other way
{ out Of the impasse appeared. Denial
is made that the allies we're or are
improperly disposed to ignore the
/ President Of America i'm this or
other solution OF impending prob
lens
Nevertheless, reasons. based prin-
cipally upon Europc's rapid drift to-
ward economic and social chaos. arc
adduced to prove the necessity OF
early allied decision on moot ques-
4 tions, ii is said. As means TO
this end. realistic elements" in the
European situation must now be
! taken into account as well as politi-
cal idealism, the allies allegedly IN
innate. Allied diplomacy also ap-
parently falls back upon treaty con-
ditions in the American Senate as
weapon in its own defense.
Misconccption OF Allies.
The allies further claim that they
thought Americas withdrawal from
1 the supreme council left them free
to independent action. to some ex-
tent at least However. contrary TO
I such belief, the American represeu-
tstion before leaving Paris indica-
ted that subsequent negotiations
looking toward territorial adjust
mcnts should be conducted through
the various foreign offices. Terrific
isl decisions under the treaties with
countries with which America was
at war. or other territorial decisions
TO which America would be bound
by the league OF nations. are re-
ferred to.
Administration circles predict
that in his reply the President will
reafiirm his disposition to give adC-
quate protection to Slsv rights in
] Fiumc and the Adriatir generally.
In this connection the Anglo
French-American proposals Of De-
cember are unoficislly reported TO
provide:
1.-The right of Italians in Dali
malta TO choose Italian Mathematics
I tion.
2.-That Italian national rights
an Dalmatian industries should be
guaranteed by an international con-
Nention.
,. That Fiume and cara be in
ternationaIized under the League OF
nations.
4. That Jugo-Slayia couccdu to
Italy the islands Of Lussin and PcIa-
goza-
B. That the JuEo-Slays agree 10
the demilitarization OF the AdrIatIc
islands on condition that the island
of Lissa remain JuEoslaV.
Opposes SeRcoRst Roadway.
Whether the President will absn-
don the strict letter OF the above
provisions. but stick TO their spirit.
is at best a speculation. But there
are many who believe that he would
be willing to agree to a compromIs,.
esta ablishing Fiume as an absolutely
independent state. These say that he
has never recognized the Pact OF
London and is especially opposed 90
4 a.