South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-08
Text of Wilson s
Reply to France
and Great Britain

his sincere and cordial interest in the
response Of the French and British
prime ministers received on Febr-
/ uary -. He notes with satisfaction
their unaltered desire 70 reach au
equitable solution in conformity alike
with the principles OF the peace con-
ference and the legitimate though
conflicting aspirations of the Ital-
Ian and JUgo-Slav peoples. He fur
Their welcomes their expressed in
tention regarding certain essential
points TO urge upon the govern
ments interested that they should
bring their desires into line with the
American point of view.
THE president is surprised, how
ever. that they should find In the
statepent OF his own willingness 20
leave 90 the point agreement OF
Italy and Jugo-Slavia the settlement
OF their common frontiers in the
Fiume region any ground for sug-
costing the withdrawal Of the joint
memorandum Of December 9Th. In
this he could not possibly join. The
memorandum represents deliberate
and disinterested judgment after
months OF earnest discussion. 1t
constituted more than q mere ex-
change OF views: il was a statement
OF principles and reorganization OF
the chief points upon which agree
ment had been reached. There was
thus Afforded a summary review Of
I these points OF agreement of The
French, British and American gov
ernments and the memorandum
should remain as IL was intended to
be. the basis Of reference represent
ing the combined opinion OF these
governments
Common Frontier.
In referring 20 the common
frontier OF the Fiume region the
president had in mind the express
desire of the two interested govern
ments 10 abandon the project of the
free state OF Fiume as defined in
the memorandum of December g. If
as he understands the government
of Italy and the government of the
Serb -Croat-Sloveue state prefer to
abandon the sO-Called buffer state
containing an overwhelming ma
jOrity of JugO-Slavs and desire 20
limit the proposed free state 10 the
corpus separatum Of F'iume, placing
+ the sovereignty in the league of ma
tiOns without either Italian or JugO-
Slav control then the government Of
the United states is prepared to aC-
cept this proposal and is willing un-
der such circumstances to leave the
determination of the common from
tier to Italy and Jugo-Slavia. IN
this connection the president desires
10 reiterate that he would gladly APP
prove a mutual agreement between
the Italian and JugO-Slav govern
ments reached without prejudice TO
the territorial or other interests of
any third nation, but Albanian ques-
tiOns should not be included i'm the
I proposed joint discussion of italy
and Jugo-Slavia and the president
must reatiiTm that he cannot posi-
bly, approve any plan which assigns
7 to JugO-Slavia in the northern dis
( tricts Of Albania territorial COmpen-
satiOn for what she is deprived Of
elsewhere. Concerning the economic
outlets for Jugo-Slavia in the region
+ of Scutari suggested in the note un-
der reply the president desires TO re
fer TO the memorandum of Deem
Der 2. as making provisions adequate
7 20 meet the needs of JugO-Slavia.
Treaty of London.
Regarding the character and APP
plicabuity of the treaty OF London
/ the president is led 20 speak with
f less reserve on account OF the frank
observations OF the French and Brit
ish prime ministers. RE is unable TO
nnd in the eNigencies OF military
strategy sufficient warrant for eXer-
CisinE secrecy with governm ent
which was intimately associated
with the signatories of the treaty Of
London i'm the gigantic task of de
Tending human freedom and which
was being called upon for unlimited
assistance and for untold treasure
The definite and well accepted policy
OF the American " or n IN @ n
throughout it's participation in the
deliberations Of the peace confer
. enCe was that il did not consider
itself bound oy secret treaties OF
which 10 had previously not known
. tho existence. Where the provisions
OF treaties We're just and reasonable
the United States was willing 20 re-
spect them. But rhe French and
British prime ministers Will of course
not expect the government OF the
United States 20 approve the eNccu-
tion of the terms OF the treaty or
. London except insofar as that gov
f eminent may be convinced that those
/ terms are iutriusically just and are
/ consistent with the maintenance OF
+ peace and settled order i'm south
eastern Europe.
Delegates Absent
THE absence OF an American rep
. reseutative with pIenary power Is 20
/ be regretted and may have been a
source OF Inconvenience but the
president can recall several in
. stances where decisions I'm the SUI
preme council were delayed while
. the British and French representa-
tiyes sought the views OF their gov
crumcnts and he Is convinced that
time would have been saved and
many Misunderstanding avoided d.
before actual decisions had been
reached and communicated 10 the
italian and JuEo-Slav delegations
this government had been given su'ti-
Cient Indication OF the fact that TO-.
Britsh and French governments iu-
tended radically 90 depart from the
memorandum or December y.
% ID ID.