New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Europe's Mood Grows Con.
ciliatory and Council Is
Sharply Assailed for Its
Policy of Secrecy
Critics of u. S. Silenced
Belief Prevails That Reply
of Leaders to President
Will Save the Situation
By Arthur S. Draper

from 1he 1r1bune's European Bureu9
Copyright. 1920 New York Tribune Ino.
LONDON, Feb. 1s.-Despite the
fact that official confirmation has
been given to the report that Presi-
dent Wilson threatened to withdraw
the Treaty of Versailles from Con-
gress if the Adriatic compromise
were accepted by the Entente,
Allied leaders were hopeful to-day
that the deadlock had been broken.
Every one was in favor Of cor
ciliation, the atmosphere of bitter
ness having completely disappeared.
Even the French, who are slower
to adjust themselves to the new
conditions, now show better spirit,
while the Italians, under the skill
full leadership Of Premier Nitti, are
becoming more temperate in their
criticism. President Wilson's scheme
for a settlement Of the Adriatic
dispute may not be accepted, but
neither will the Objectionable CON-
promise of January 20 prevail. a
new compromise, it is agreed, event
ually will be arranged.
Trend Toward Secrecy Deplored
The secrecy surrounding the peace
conference produced bad impression,
and throughout the press commen.
there is tone of criticism.
incidentally the system-or rather.
lack of system-by which America is
kept informed of negotiations is con-
sldered Fundamentally wrong. Instead
of an American representative sitting
at the conference with power to ex-
press the governments opinion, the
American Ambassador apparently is in
vited from time to time to hear what
the conference cares to tell him. The
least the American government could
do would be to ask for a written tram
script of the conference proceedings.
On both sides of the Atlantic there
as 10 just what did happen. 1 am in a
position to reiterate what was said in
these dispatches at frst-that Mr..
Wilson's note of approximately 5000
words produced the same effect as if q
bomb had been dropped on the con-
ference. The first intention was to
send torrid reply, but upon the in
tervention of certain British officials
the decision was reconsidered and the
whole tone of the final message was
changed
Publication Left to Wilson
At this moment there is no indication
that the British government contem-
plates the publication of the note or
the reply. This will be left to President
Wilson.
1t is question whether the note or
the secrecy surrounding it leaves the
worse impression. The situation has
developed into political issue of the
first magnitude, and interest in peace
negotiations, which had fallen to a low
ebb notwithstanding the Importance OF
the discussion, has risen quickly.
There is no denying the fact that
'c" opaPcl oPillou came 10 tne Qetonce
of Mr.. Wilson in his opposition to the
Italian demands 1t is true also that
the newspapers were unanimous in
condemnlng any step which might lead
TO an alienation Of Anne rica.
Nittps Position Difficult
Premier Nitti, whose chief concern
was to reorganize Italy economically
and financially rather than 10 promote
the seizure Of new territory. finds him
self IN an increasingly embarrassing
position. The Italian Premier is much
more reasonable than Orlando or Son.
nlno, but he cannot accept settlement
which will prove his political downfall.
ON the other hand, he is prepared to at
tempt to reach settlement with thu
Jugo-Slavs along new lines.
ASIDE from the interest in the note
and the Allied reply, the chief concern
IS their possible effect on ratification
OF the treaty by the United States
Senate 'sS
The conference met again TODAY Tn
consider the Turkish boundaries. am
able TO deny positively that the pres
ence OF Marshal Foch had ANYTHING to
90 "ith the discussion Of the west ban|,
OF OF the Rhine, as has been reported
me former Allied military leader was
consulted about Turkish defenses w.,
situation in Poland and the British
Russian policy.