Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-28
PREM|ERS WILLING
TO WITHDRAW ALL
FIUME PROPOSALS
Absence of u S. in Councils
Proves Almost 1nsurmountablc
Obstacle, Allies Say.
PRESIDENT is UPHELD

Jondond Feb. 2S.--The reply made
nv Pr,micrs LLOYD George and Millerand
TO President Wilson's latest communica-
tion on the adfiatic question repeats the
assurance that they ''never had the in
tention of making definite settlement
without obtaining the views of the United
States Government"
The reply which is dated February 26,
states that the absence of an American
representative had proved in practice an
almost insurmountable obstacle to the
SUCCESS OF the negotiations.
The premiers note As fact of the great
est Importance that President Wilson
expresses willingness to ACCEPT any settle
ment mutually agreeable 70 Italy and
Jugo-Slavia regarding their common from
tier in the Fiume Iegien, provided such
agreement is not made on the basis OF
compensation elsewhere at the expense
OF nationals of a third power
This, the Preniers agree, would be an
ideal way OF settling the question, and they
expressing Willingness to do their utmost
TO reach a settlement by this road. in
order TO facilitate this process they are
ready 20 withdraw their proposals OF
December and January 20, because they
believe if the parties principally concerned
believe the Allied and Associated Powers
are committed to supporting them IN
any particular solution 1t will be more
difficult to secure voluntary agreement.
The Premiers therefore cordially invite
the President to join them in formal
proposal to the Italian and Jugo-Slav
Governments to negotiate an agreement
on the basis of withdrawal of oil previous
proposals. :,
n however, this attempt should prove
Il Al Er.a,L md Rr,f,oh
Premier; agree that the United States,
Great Britain and France should once
more consider the question in common,
with the view OF arriving at concrete pro
posals.
The Premiers express appreciation of an
agreement with President Wilson's views
with regard to the future of the Albanian
people, and say they are willing 10 urge
upon tho Governments interested that
they should bring their desires into line
with the American viewpoint.
With regard to the Treaty of London
the PremierY state that It's secret char
acter" was due TO military exigencies pre-
venting Its publications during the war.
The Premiers declare they cannot dis
a,iise that should not voluntary settlement
OF the Adriatic problem be attained the
Treaty of London would become the
only valid alternative s~ far as they are
concerned.
Italy has co-operated loyalty, they say,
IN trying TO find q substitute for the pact
and the Allies hope they Will succeed in
finding such a substitute.
The Westminster Gazette yesterday |
afternoon. discussing the Adriatic situation
saws: There is little reason why the |
note should not have oeen published as
written and received. A delicate situation !
between the Allies and the United States |
has arisen, but il cannot be made worse /
by open discussion"
The newspaper declares that President |
Wilson is right in his aspect OF the Adri- |
attic question. 1t asserts that the diff
Guilty between the Allies and the United !
States is that MIR Wilson accepts no
responsibility for the treaty OF London,
which was rendered out of date owing 20
the breakup of Austria-Hungary and TO
which he was not a party"
"The treaty of Versailles and the French
alliance treaty" the newspaper continues,
'would involve America, if accepted with
out reservation, In an obligation TO MAIN
tain frontier settlements which he (Presi-
dent Wilson, considers in this case to he
ineuuitahle. That is his difficulty. The
difficulty of the Allies is that they do not
know whether America IN any case will
accept any obligation of this Kind at all.
The deadlock is quite as murh due to the
holding I'D OF the treaty in the Senate as
to any inherent difficulty on the Adriatio
question itself"