The Washington herald., 1920-02-17

the fTeslQentS actl0n. as Premier
Millerand intimates. viii he to post
pone decision on The whole Italio.
Jugoslav question.
The White House ten!es that Mr.
Wilson has threatened the allies with
Americas withdrawal from European
affairs. However. no denial Is made
that the President in his communica-
tion did insist upon beeing consulted
about decisions which the United
States could be called upon to maze
operative.
In other words. he has let the allies
understand that should they force one
of their proposed compromises upon
Jugoslavia, America would refuse ner
sympathy and her help to make 1t ef-
fective.
No Reply Received.
Up to last evening the State De-
partment had received no reply to the
Presidents communication from the
allies. But Paris and London dis
patches indicated that 1t had been
framed and was ready to go forward.
The allied note undoubtedly will
open up new negotiations between the
President and the big three" Mean
while. Anglo-French diplomacy prom
ises to try to persuade the Jugoslavs
to compromise with the Italians or
Italy to submit to Jugoslayia.
Diplomatic circles here are in
clined to think that both Washing
ton and Paris will have to take
d'Annunzio and his insurgent army
more seriously. Although the war
rior poet still marks time at Fiume.
these feel that he can be "sighing
for new worlds to conquer"
In their opinion Bonar Law. with
his suggestion of Montenegrin-
Serbian state and Presidents will
sons new Adriatic note, could sup
ply "the last straw of needed in
spiration." By his seizure of an
Italian transport, carrying 1000
regulars, d'Annunzio has just now
recalled allied and International at
tention to his solution of the Fiume
problem.
Italian Points Of View.
The Italians contend that ItaIy's
| fears OF threatened national Sc
curity" have been confirmed by
revelations of fresh Balkan tend
encies against her. These, they
argue. compel adequate defense"
for Italy in the Adriatic. which the
Presidents program is alleged to
deny her.
In line with their contentious. the
Italians advance evidences of Fran
! co-Serbian activities and the pro-
posals for military and economic
alliances upon the part of Balkan
states.
Besides the Serbo-French rap
prochement. Italians are concerned
about the reported Czecho- -Slovak
and Jugo-Slav tendencies. Czecho-
Slovakia and Jugo-Slavia are said
to be negotiating for defensive
military alliance" A similar treaty,
ii is declared, has already been for
mulated between Austria and Cze-
cho -Slovakia.
To add to Italian anxieties. finan-
cial agree eements between Austria
and Jugo-Slavla.. With gIs their po-
litical possibilities. are forecast
The allegations that Poland and
Hungary will form combination
tending to balance off any Czecho-
Slovak. or Austrian and Jugo-Slay
unit, does not quiet Italian fore
bodings.
in such -shadowed alliances
Italian craftsmanship sees the ghost
of the traditionalIy hostile Austrian
Empire slowly rising from the
grave against her. For all these
reasons my Italian friends tell me
that Italy. will never accept Pres
ident Wilson's proposition without
notifications.
For its unqualified acceptance
( they assert, would not only affirm
the attempted isolation of Italy
from the Balkans" but would carry
| continual military threat against
the Italian people. In view of this
attitude. any efforts of England and
! France to favor President Wilson
and Jugoslavia and appease ItqIJ
with so-called "equalizing conces-
sions" in tie Near East will an
parently meet with failure.
That the State Department sees
fresh troubles ahead in the Pres
ident's attitude toward the Ta'o-
Jugoslav controversy is indicate ed
by Mr.. Vance Thompson's hurrie1
departure for Rome Mr.. Thomp-
/ son. who is political attache Ct
. the American Embassy at Rome
reached Washington about a week
ago. reporting to former Secreta y
Of State Lansing.
He had hoped to be able to f:..I
a brief rest in America but he has
been ordered back to Italy on the
/ first sailing in view of the latest
developments in the Italo-JugosIav
affair.