The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-27
ADMITS THREAT
OF WITHDRAWAL
Peace Treaty Might Be Taken
From Senate
CHANGE IN FRONT SUDDEN
Resentment Over Attempt To Reverse
FIume Settlement Without Con-
sultina U. s. Reason For
Action.

Washington -President Wilson will
consider the ACCESSIBILITY Of withdraw
ing from the Senate the treaty of peace
with Germany unless the Allied pow
ers repudiate the Lloyd George pro-
posals for settlement of the Adriatic
dispute.
More than that, it was admitted Off
cially that the note further informed
the British and french powers that
unless the Adriatic proposal was with
drawn, President Wilson would con-
slider also withdrawing from the Sen
ate the British-F ranco-American de-
fensive alliance for the protection of
France from future German agrees
sion.
The change of attitude on the part
of the Government came with sud-
denness that was dramatic. Every ef-
fort had been made to minimize the
significance of the note to the powers,
and both the White House and State
Department took pains to explain that
the report from Paris that the United
States threatened withdrawal from
further participation in European af-
fairs was grossly exaggerated" AS it
now appears, such was not the case.
Vehement criticism on the part of
American newspapers over the fact
that the existence of the note had been
kept secret until disclosed by the
foreign press, and protests against the
apparent lack of frankness on the part
of the Administration apparently were
responsible for today's action in dis
closing the actual nature Of the COM
munication.
On the other hand, the gossip in
Senate quarters assumes that the de-
malls were for the most part inspired
by the sensational effect already Gre
ated by the WilsonLansing break, and
by desire to prevent the inference
being drawn that in reassuming direc-
ton of foreign affairs the President
was acting precipitately.
With the admission concerning the
threats contained in the note came
also detailed explanations of the rea-
sons prompting it. These explana-
tons proved to be hardly less sensa-
tional than the threats themselves, be-
cause they disclosed stern resent
ment on the part of the American
Government over what it regards as
an effort on the part of the Allied
powers, including particularly France
and Great Britain, to ignore the Unit
ed States in a matter Of particular in
terest to this Government.
While the boundaries sought to be
set up in any settlement of the Fiume
controversy would not become of
themselves a part of the treaty OF
Versailles, these boundaries neverthe-
less would be taken under the protec.
ton of Article 10 of the League of Ma
lions covenant contained in that
treaty. Thus, it is pointed out, if the
Lloyd George settlement were allowed
to go through, the United States, as
Stunning that the Senate ratified the
peace treaty and the United States
became party to the League of Ma
tions, would have to assume obliga-
lions to protect the integrity Of boun-
diaries which this Government regards
as utterly indefensible from moral
standpoint.
| More than that, there is involved In
States question of general principle.
1t is as to whether, pending our rat1-
| fication of the treaty and entry into
the league, the Allied powers, already.
parties to the covenant, are to proceed
| without consulting us to make general
readjustments of boundaries in Eu-
rope.
If such is to be the case, the United
| States desires to make it plain and
has so expressed itself in the note to
the power that it cannot undertake to
guarantee the maintenance Of bounda-
ries and territories the adjustment OF
! which may be effected without the con-
sent of this Government.
When the United States withdrew
from further participation in the Peace
Conference, it was with the under
standing that subsequent negotiations
concerning the Adriatic controversy
and kindred difficulties were to be
carried on through the regular chan
nels of the various foreign Offices con-
cerned, the United States to be con-
suited along with the other powers
| involved.