Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-16
England and France Re-
ject His Objection to
Compromise.

Washington, Feb. 16.-President
Wilson, it was learned today at the
White house, did not say in his
note to the entente premiers re-
garding the Fiume question, that
the United States would no longer
be able to concern itself in Euro
pean affairs if Fiume settlement
were made without consulting
America.
Interpretation Too Sweeping.
Officials said the Interpretation
of the presidents note by the Paris
Temps was too sweeping" They
said the United States would not
withdraw from participation in the
peace treaty and the League Of Ma
tions, if the treaty were ratified by
the senate, but that it would with
draw from any participation in the
Fiume settlement. including the
policing of the Adriatic.
The presidents position regard
ing Fiume and the whole Adriatic
situation was said to be unchang-
ed. This position, however, never
has been officially outlined and Of
| flcials declined today to define It.
Reply Not Received.
No reply to the presidents note
has been received, it was said at
xho ct,to jo,.rtmnnf n;rn,toboo
from abroad said the reply had
been dispatched and that in it the
/ premiers adhered to their ulti-
matum to Jugo-Slavia that it must
! accept the compromise on the FL
ume question or suffer the carry
ing out of the terms Of the original
treaty of London.
1T has been reported that the
United States was willing to ac-
cept some amendments of the orig
| inal plan, but all of the exchanges
have been closely guarded. 1t is
understood, however, that the
American position has been one of
unalterable opposition to the ap-
plication of the terms of the treaty
| of London which would have given
Italy jurisdiction over Dalmatia.
though not over F'iume and that all
of the notes have indicated the
purpose of the American govern
ment to adhere as closely as possi-
BILE to the lines OF the original set
Itlement, based, as it was supposed
to be, upon the principle of self
determination and of chronological
affiliation as set out in President
Wilson's original IA points.
Food Relief Held Ups
The suggestion that President
Wilson had indicated that the Unit
ed States would not be disposed to
proceed with its European food re-
lief measures if the allies remained
obdurate was made in some official
quarters today. Desire of Great
Britain, Italy and other nations for
American funds to relieve famine
in Austria and other countries, il
was suggested might influence the
allies replies TO the president.
The principal concession indicat-
ed by the president as possibly ac
Iceptable, it was said in diplomatic
quarters, has been the creation of
a buffer state and the entente pre-
miers so far have opposed it.
Report Allies Firm.
Paris, Feb. 16.-Prompt rejec-
ton of President Wilson's objec-
tons to the compromise agree
ment by which England, France
and Italy hoped to settle with Ju-
go-Slavia questions relative to the
future status of the eastern coast
of the Adriatic is reported in the
Echo d Paris. Premiers Lloyd
George of Great Britain and Mil
lerland of France drafted the reply
to the American chief executive and
insisted Jugo-Slavia must agree to
! the compromise, with the alterna-
tive of seeing the treaty Of Lon
+! don become operative. it is said.
| At the same time the premiers'
reply was sent to Washington, the
foreign minister of Jugo-Slavia was
notified the viewpoint Of the Brit
ish and French governments had
not been altered by the seemingly
unexpected action Of Mr.. Wilson. 5
| Not An Ultimatum.
Paris, Feb. 16.-President Will
sons note on the Adriatic question
| is not considered in French officia.
circles as an ultimatum, it was de-
clared today by a foreign Office Of
| fetal.
On such partial information as
was obtainable yesterday the Paris
press construed the note as mean
| ing that France and Great Britain
must change their attitude on that
question or the United States
would withdraw from all connec-
ton with European affairs.
Merely Continue Negotiations
The Official view, however. is that
rather than an ultimatum, the note
is simply q renewal of direct nego-
tiations by the United States. The
reply of the allies, represented In
the press here. as categoric main
tenance of their attitude by Great
Britain and France, was described
by the foreign office official as
merely continuance OF the nego-
tiations.