The Washington times., 1920-03-08
Wilson's Reply To Allies

OF Scutari suggested in the note I'M
der reply, the President desires to re-
fer to the memorandum OF December
Q as making adequate provisions to
meet the needs OF Jugo-Slavia.
Regarding the character and ap-
plicability OF the treaty Of London
the President is led to speak with
less reserve on account OF the frank
observations of the French and Brit
ish prime ministers. He is unable to
find in the exigencies of military
strategy sufficient warrant for ex-
ercising secrecy with govern
ment which was intimately asso-
ciated with the signatories of
the Treaty OF London in the
gigantic task of defending human
freedom and which was being called
upon for unlimited assistance and for
untold treasure.
The definite and well-accepted
policy of the American Government
throughout its participation in tho
deliberations OF the peace conference
was that it did not consider itself
bound by secret treaties OF which IT
had previously not known tho exist
ence. Where the provisions of such
treaties were just and reasonable, the
United States was willing to respect
them. But the French and British
Prime Ministers will, of course, not
expect the Government Of the United
States to approve the execution OF
the terms Of the treaty OF London OK
cept in SO far as that Government
may be convinced that those terms
are intrinsically just and are consist
ent with the maintenance of peace
and settled order in southeast
Europe.
Points To Other Delays.
"The absence of an American rep
resentative with plenary powers Is
to be regretted and may have been
source OF Inconvenience, but the
President can recall several in
stances where decisions in the SUI
preme council were delayed while
the British and French representa-
tives sought the views of their
governments, and he is convinced
that time would have been saved
and many Misunderstanding avoid
ed III, before actual decisions had been
reached and communicated to the
Italian and Jugo-Slav delegations,
this Government had been given suf-
hcient indications of the fact that the
| British and French governments in
tended radically to depart from tho
| memorandum Oh DcCefnDer ".
I'm conclusion. the President de-
sires to express his concurrence in
the view of the British and French
prime ministers that a speedy settle
ment OF the Adriatic question Is of
urgent Importance. But he cannot
accept as just the implied suggestion
OF his responsibility for the failure
to reach a solution. He has merely
adhered to the provisions of a settle
ment which the French and British
governments recognized as equitable
In the joint memorandum OF Deem
Der 0 and has declined to approve a
new settlement negotiated without
the knowledge or approval Of the
American Government, which was UNI
acceptable to one OF the interested
governments and which, In his opin-
ion, was in direct contradiction OF the
! principles for the defense of which
America entered the war.
These views he has fully explained
In his note OF February 10 and he
ventures to express the earnest hope
that the allied governments viii not
find II necessary to decide on a course
which the American Government in
accordance with it's reiterated state.
mcnt viii be unable TO follow"