New-York tribune., 1920-03-08
President Insists That
Agreement of Dec. 9
Be Upheld as Final
Opinion of the Powers
Pact of London Is
Flatly Repudiated
Consents to Italo-Jugo-
Slav Farley if Buffer
State Idea Is Dropped

State Idea Is Dropped
From The Tribune's Washington Buredu
WASHINGTON, March 7-Pres-
ident Wilson fatty refuses to sane
tion direct negotiations between
Italy and Jugo-Slavia for a settle
ment of the Adriatic controversy on
the basis proposed by the British
and French premiers. He agrees to
only one suggestion of the Entente
premiers, and then only with reser-
vations.
In his latest note to the heads of
the British and French govern
ments, which was dispatched Thurs
day, he takes emphatic exception to
their proposal that, in joining these
governments in an invitation to the
Italians and Jugo-Slavs to proceed
with such negotiations, he shall
agree to withdrawal of the Anglo
French-American memorandum Of
December 8.
This memorandum, he insists,
must stand as the final expression of
the outside powers as to what con-
stitutes the proper basis for a settle
ment of the dispute. With equal
emphasis he rejects the suggestion
that, in the event Of a failure of the
direct negotiations, the Treaty Of
London must be regarded as the last
resort.
Surprised at Premier's View
Expressing surprise that the French
and British premiers should find in his
previously expressed willingness to
leave to the joint agreement of Italy
and Jugo-Slavia the settlement of their
controversy any ground for suggesting
the withdrawal Of the December 9
memorandum, the note, which is signed
by Acting Secretary Polk, says:
"In this he could not possibly join.
The memorandum represents deliberate
and disinterested judgment, after
months of earnest discussion. It con-
stituted more than a mere exchange Of
views; it was statement Of principles
and recapitulation of the chief points
upon which agreement had been
reached. There was thus afforded a
summary review of these points of
agreement Of the French, British and
American governments, and the memo
randum SHOULD remain, as it was in
tended to be, the basis of reference
Representing the combined opinion Of
these governments"
Policy of Secrecy Condemned
The President refuses to accept the
defense which the British and French
premiers set up for the secrecy their
governments maintained until the as
sembling Of the Paris Peace Confer
ence regarding the terms of this treaty.
Concerning this the note says:
"He (the President) Is unable to find
in the 'exigencies of military strategy
sufficient warrant for exercising Sc
crecy with q government which was
intimately associated with the sigma
tories of the Treaty Of London in the
gigantic task Of defending human free
dom and which was being called upon
for unlimited assistance and for un-
told treasure. The definite and we'll
accepted policy of the American gov
ernment throughout its participation
in the deliberations Of the peace con-
ference was that it did not consider
it had previously not known the exist
ence"
The effect of the communication Ia
clearly to require the British and
French governments to recede abso-
lutely from their insistence upon tho
Treaty Of London as last resort for
settlement of the Adriatic dispute
VvN u
these powers for speedy settlement
of the controversy it leaves the way
open for them to withdraw this sug-
gestion and to accept instead the De
cember 9 memorandum as the logical
alternative. More than that, the note
is plainly intended as final repudia-
tion OF the United States government
OF the Treaty OF London or any other
secret treaty arrangement as being Of
any binding effect whatever upon this
government.
Previous Threat Recalled
The effect of this declaration Is par
ticularly significant in view of the
fact that standing in the background
is the Presidents previously Uttered
threat to Withdrew entirely from any
participation in European affairs and
from the league of nations itself if
these other powers persist in ignoring
the attitude Of the United States upon
these matters.
The note made public tonight states
again the unwillingness of the United
States to sanction any settlement of
the Adriatic question, either through
direct negotiations or otherwise, which
would involve the rearrangement Of
boundaries at the expense of third
power. In this the President speaks
with particular reference to the inter-
est Of Albania.
4 The proposal of the premiers 70
which the President agrees with reser-
vations is referred to in the note a.
follows:
"If, as he understands, the govern
ment of the erb-Croat-Slovene state
prefer to abandon the so-called buffer
state containing an overwhelming ma
jority Of Jugo-Siavs and desire to limit
the proposed free state to the corpus
separatum of Fiume, placing the SOW
ereignty in the league Of nations
without either Italian OK Jugo-Slay
control, then the government OF the
United States is prepared to accept
this proposal and is willing under such
. circumstances to leave the determina-