New-York tribune., 1920-02-18

the authority Tor the Information given
must not be connected with any par
ticnlar department of the government
speculation was rife. It was as
sumed in some quarters that the de-
malls yesterday were for the most par,
inspired by the sensational effects al.
ready created by the Wilson-Lansing
break.
According to this line Of thought
Administration officials feared it would
be thought that in reassuming dircc-
tion of foreign affairs the President
was acting precipitately. This theory
was strengthened by the disclosure
from Administration sources to-day
that Secretary Lansing had signed
the note. Unusual pains were taken
also to reveal that certain high Off
cials still in the government agree
with the President in his stand.
History of Incident
Following is a chronology Of the de-
velopments of the Adriatic situation
obtained from authentic sources to-
day:
December 9-Joint note signed by
Great Britain, France and the United
States. Polk signed for the United
States. This memorandum was de-
liyered to Signor Scialoia, Italian
CoIelSu oiuiseei, DeSShpSh 4" AL
London.
December 23-Clemenceau speech
on the Italian situation in Chamber
of Deputies.
January 9-Meeting of Supreme
Council. Lloyd George said he had
talked with Premier Ntti and had
sgreed on notifications to note OF
December 8.
January 14-United States was
notified of notifications.
January 14-Premier Nitti agreed
to notifications, and this was COM
municated to Jugo-Slavs as ulti-
matum that must be accepted, or
Allies would fall back on Treaty of
London. Jugo-Slavs were given re-
peated extensions of time to answer,
aud extension is still continuing.
Last week in January-United
States notified foreign powers that
its position was unchanged.
February 10-President Wilson'S
latest note was sent.
February 17-Allies gave reply to
Ambassador Davis.
United States To Be Consulted
When the United States withdrew
from further participation In the peace
conference it was with the understand
ing that subsequent negotiations con-
corning the Adriatic controversy and
kindred difficulties were to be carried
on through the regular channels Of the
various foreign Offices concerned, the
United States to be consulted along
with the other powers involved.
1t was definitely established this
afternoon that not until four or five
days before the so-called Lloyd George
proposal was laid before the Supreme
~
United States informed as to the ma
ture of the negotiations. Prior to that
time the Premicrs of Great Britain,
France and Italy had been conferring
in secret over this question, and their
final conclusions were not made known
to this country until the council meet
ing on the 18th, when Hugh Wallace.
the American Ambassador, was asked
to attend in his capacity as observer
without plenary powers.
At the very time that Mr.. Wallace
was advised as to the conclusions
reached, the three other powers in con-
In other words, the Allies, in the Presi-
dents own language to Lansing, at
tempted to forestall his judgment.
AS originally proposed by President
Wilson, the settlement of the contro
versy would have involved the estab-
lishment of an independent buffer state
of Ffume under the protection of the
league of nations, and the placing of
the Italian boundary in such way as
to reach down to the Adriatic q short
distance to the south of Albona, on the
eastern coast of the Istrian peninsula
italian Demand Extended
In September, 1919, the Italian gov
!
moved to the north of Albona, so as to
include that seaport within the Italian
limits, it being indicated that this
would completely satisfy the Italian
people 1t was agreed to, the United
States consenting, but in the follow
ing month the Italian Foreign Minister
asked that this boundary be extended
still further northwrd and to the east
and that it should include a narrow
strip of land extending from imme-
diately to the north of the Istrian
peninsula and along the seacoast to the
city limits Of Fiume.
The effect of this would have been
to give the Italians complete control
over the railways leading into Fiume,
which railways not only the Jugo
Sluvs depend on for an outlet, but also
Hungary, Austria, Czecho- -Slovakia and
other parts of Central Europe. That is
to say, it would give Italy economic
domination over nationalities that bear
toward the Italians an implacable
hatred.
Immediately this proposition was re-
jected by the other Allied powers and
the United States. 1t is virtually this
same proposal to which Britain and
France have now agreed and against
which tse President is protesting
Polk Offered Proposal
The final result Of the negotiations
SO far as the active participation OF
the United States is concerned, led to
the proposal Of December 0, prepared
by Frank L. Polk, Under Secretary of
State cf the United States, then at the
head of the American peace delegation
at Paris, and approved by Sir Eric
Grove on behalf of Great Britain and
by Premier Clemenceau of France
THIS Joint note was delivered to the
Italian Foreign Minister in London on
December ~, and on December 23 this
agreement was referred to by Clemen-
ceau IN speech before the French
Chamber of Deputies, who described ii
as the unanimous proposal of the Allied
powers and the United States.
Following this, Secretary Polk left
Paris for the United States, and Am
bassador Wallace was left to act as
observer at the subsequent meetings
OF the Supreme Council The Allies
wished MIR. Wallace to be given power
to act for Sha I1ri}od C+oto, h,,4 D..