Evening star., 1920-02-17
Move in AdriatiC
Must Have Con-
sent Here.
BLAME is PUT AT
PREMIERS' DOOR
History of Situation Is
Set Forth by State
Department.

President Wilson in his "memoran-
dunn" to the allies concerning theiI
proposed Adriatic settlement inform
ed them that the United States might
have to consider Withdrawing the
treaty Of Versailles from the Senate
If the allies went ahead with their
plans without the consent Of this
country.
This statement was made officially
here today, with the further statement
that the American position was out
lined not in the nature of threat.
but as a statement OF q situation
created mot by an act of the Ameri-
can government. but by an act OF the
British. French and Italian premiers,
which would place the United States
in the position, II II were party to
the treaty Of Versailles, of subscrib-
lag through the pact to rights of
sovereignty and other agreements ito
which 1t was opposed.
The treaty of Versailles and the
Angio-French american pact are con-
otdered inseparahle SO far as this
question Is concerned, and IL Presi-
dent Wilson should determine to
would mean that the eAmerican-French
pact would be Withdrawn at the same
time, II was explained.
seek % Place Dlane Here.
State Department officials take the
deavoring. through setting up cry
or threat on the part OF the Ameri-
can government. to place the blame
for the situation which has arisen at
Americas door. instead of on the
ACTS Of the foreign premiers. where
Il belongs" Z:
II was reiterated that on December
.. before Acting Secretary Polk left
Paris. the American. British and
French representatives had agreed ON
0ettlement Of the Adriatic question
and II was charged that subsequently.
without consulting the United States,
the allied premiers sitting at Paris
adopted new agreement which was
transmitted to Ambassador wallace
for the approval of the American gov
ssrprsse 10 US.
This. it was said. came as a great
surprise to the American govsrnnent.
premters asking whether they propos-
ed to settle the question without con-
egiting the Afnesisan eAxorpaenk,
Tho premters were Sid 40 nave re-
%. but later can't. An ultimatum to
JugoelAtik that unless II accepted the
new settlement the terms Of the orig
inal treaty Of London would be car
sied cut.
wallace Witneasea Revisisn.
Ambassador H. C.. Wallace. United
states representative In Paris, was
prssent at the, meeting Of the allied
prime ministers last month. when
they revised the terms Of the pro-
posed settlement of the Adriatic con
troversy. IL was learned 1t the State
Depaftment today. but only a. q spec
tator, and ~ such had no part In
drawing up the proposed settlement
which President Wilson has found OBJ
5ectionable.
Furthermore. it was learned here
today that the proposal to which this
country has taken exception was not
actually framed in the gathering of
the ministers, but was drawn UP
prior to their meeting without any
being aware that new terms of set
tlement were in process Of being for
mulated- When this completed plan
was laid before the prime ministers
thsy adopted Il without change. and
: Ambassador Wallace was not in a
position to object to it or to have a
voice in the action.
MF. Polk's View.
Acting Secretary Of State Polk. who
was one Of the signers of the agree
ment adopted in Paris last January
designed to settle the territorial
claims of Italy and Jugoslavia, sug-
gested today that If the January
agreement In allowed to stand az a
part Of the peace settlement this
country will be a party to 1t. without
having had q voice in its prepara-
ton.
Part of the differences between this
country and the allies over the Adri-
attic situation seems to be due to di-
verging views on the, present status
of the supreme council. Secretary
Polk has taken the position that the
supreme council has served its pur-
pose, and cannot function as 1t did
in the period Immediately following
the signing of the armistice.
regarding the Adriatic controversy or
other questions affecting international
boundaries should be the result OF ne
rotiations made by the respective
Sovernments through their foreign
emces.
yste ives Of Few Lines.
The note which President wilson
ments about two weeks ago. anc
which has not yet been answered by
them, is understood to have been one
OF the briefest diplomatic documents
exchanged during the war. Cne ON
ciaI said that it did not contain more
than eight or ten typewriter lines
and was not in any sense an ultima
tum. A.. -. &;
The impression prevails that the Is
.,e is hroader than one merely affect
ing an international boundary line hall
way around the world from the Unitet
states. What Is more important. &
far as this country is concerned, IN I'M
eyes Of some officials. is whether TINS
country will be expected to sign on th'
dotted line when presented with agree
ments which II has had no part II
framing.
Officials made it clear that the viii
son-Iansing affair was not connected
in the remotest way with the Adri
attic question. Secretary Lansing. /
WAS stated. was in the fullest accort
Polk. who succeeded Mr.. Lansing q
American peace representative
SQUIRREL SKINS ADVANCE