The Washington times., 1920-02-23
.BRUSQUEN NOTE
TOU.S. URGED
Lloyd George Forced Premier
MjIIerand to Sign Stern
Adriatic Reply.

PARIS Feb. 23.--Now that the
smoke of the first round In the new
Adriatic battle is clearing away, the
full story of what happened behind
the scenes of the international po-
litical stage at London last week is
gradually becoming known. Dlplo-
matte circles here judge the "fea-
ture" of that story to be this:
. Would Bar America
That Premier Lloyd George made =
wen planned, deliberate attempt 10
bnr America from the Affairs Of Eur
spe In order 10 have a free hsno !"
,ke settlement OF the Turkish sues-
lion nud parcel out the Ottoman EN-
sire 20 tie hest Interests Of Britain.
To bring this condition about, II Is
said. he drafted the first Adriatic note
10 President Wilson, amounting TO
short and out-and-out "snub, caicu-
lated to provoke President wilson's
withdrawal once and for all from
Europe's affairs.
This story, for which more than
one diplomatic authority stands
sponsor, persists i'm spite of the re-
heated official denials from London
that such q first note ever was drawn
Coming on the eve of Premier Milier-
and's departure for London, Tor the
second series OF sessions of the Coun-
ell. which has transferred It's mead
quarters to the British capital, these
revelations" are the subject or In
tense political speculation here.
More sensational still, from the
French viewpoint, are the methoos
IIoyd George is said to have used to
force Frances acquiescence in his
.obama 10 eliminate America.
To achieve this purpose he is said
10 ha,e threatened to Premier MIL
,erauS the Immediate calling In OF
, 8 .OosssgO. GUn francs OF short-term GER
t1ecatcs owned in Britain.
Ey lhis threat he is said to have
,oerced VI. Millerand to signing the
:,llegeu FIRST brusque note TO Mr..
Wilson, despite. the French Premier's
Atrong original opposition.
"a DeaI- On Turkey.
The latter. IL is averred, was
forced to yield, for he could not allow
, new violent slump in the franc ex-
,,hange on the eve Of the French ma
,iOnal loan.
Another Club" which Lloyd George
lq said to have held over the French
r,renier is the promise of Britain's
import OF Frances plans regarding
turkey.
'r'he Pritish Premier, Lloyd George,
+. said to have been backed through
sIl by the Italian prime minister,
,Enor Nitti, whose support for the
frtish policies toward Turkey was
.nlisted by Lloyd Georges advocacy
3 ItaIy's Adriatic ambitions.
NJ MiIlerand, a shrewd diplomat,
Hl,w through the scheme from the
-trst and countered 1T by publication
IN lEcho de Paris and LIE Matin, OF
The tenor of the defy" note.
That started general journalistic
howl both here and in London. the
press of Britain and France being
plunged into panicky fear lest the
allies through the contemplated note
deliberately provoke President Will
son to make good his threat to with
draw the treaties.
New Note Il Framed.
So violent was the storm in the
press that Lloyd George was forced
10 back down and draft fresh note
which, couched in courteous and
diplomatic formula, left the way open
10 further discussion with Washing
ton.
But M. MilIerand's action is said to
have angered his British colleague
considerably-so much so, indeed,
that, according to the story told here.
he fatty told the French Premier
Britain could no longer back the
French Turkish policy.
Thug the whole Turkish question.
"settled'' last week. L. now to be re
opened. and President Wilson IL. ex-
pected to have much to say about 1t.
1T is further stated in we'll in
formed circles which was the starting
point Of the controversy between the
allies and President Wilson. was
RATED by Lloyd George entirely
,inst the opinion and advice of N.
yfsmenceau