Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-27

Serb Croat- Slovene state All Adriat.c
islands were to be demilitarized and
there were to be special provisions to
permit Italians in Dalmatia to choose
Italian nationality.
Wilson Prods Premiers.
President Wilson's note of January
III. IN protest to these ARRANGEMENTS
asked whether 'tit was the intention of
the British and French governments in
the future to dispose of the various
questions pending in European anu 70
communicate the results to the govern
ment of the United States" adding that
Clenenceau and Lloyd George must
realize there were features in the pro-
posed Fiume settlement which could no.
be acceptable to this government.
Lloyd George and CIemenceau. reply
ing under date of January %. disclainedi
any intention of making definite settle
ment without the views of the United
States, but had taken it up at the point
at which it was left when Under-see~
retary Polk returned to Washington
They replied they felt practically every
Important point of the joint memorandum
of December 8 remained untouched and
added that only two features undergo .
alterations and both these are to the,
advantage of JugoSlavM"
Premiers Restate Case.
The British and French premiers
argued that the disappearance of the
free state of Fiume would reunite 200
900 Jugo- Slavs with their fatherland and
that the Albanian settlement was such
as to afford satisfaction ito the neces-
sary requirements to all parties con
cerned.' They characterized it as a fair
settlement of "a difficult and dangerous
question ard that in the event of its
not being accepted they viii be driven to,
support the enforcement of the treaty Of
London, which is satisfactory to nobody"
Both premiers disclaimed any intent
to show the slightest discourtesy to the
United States or that they wished to
conceal their action in any way" As
ference, they said. they thought the best
plan TO proceed with the negotiations
and communicate the results to the
United States
Backed Condemned Solution.
President Wilson's reply of February
10 said he could not believe that a
solution containing provisions which al
ready had received the we'll merited CON
demnation of the French and British
governments treferring TO the settle
ment of December 81 can in any sense
be regarded as right" He could not
agree that the memorandum of January
portant point as argued by the British
and French premiers and declared his
opinion that the original proposal haI
been profoundly altered TO the advan-
tage of improper Italian detectives. to
the serious injury of the Jugo- Slav peo-
pie, and to the peril of world peace"
The fact that Italy rejected the proposal
If December 8 and accepted that Of
January ID the president thought. was
ho$ nf
positive advantages
President Wilson pointed out that
while the British and French govern
nents, in the agreement of December q.
'oncurred in the view that a corridor
or fiume can counter to eyerv CON
liberation Of geography, economics and
err1torlai convenience" they agreed 10
hat, whereas Italy's demand for the
of all Istria had been reject
ID IN the former agreement "on the
ohd ground that neither strategic nor
economic consideration could Justify
uch annexation, the agreement of
January IA provided for "this unjust
md inexpedient annexation of all Istria.'
New Plan Gave Italy Grip on Fiums.
President Wilson said that whereas
he agreement of December 9 excluded
very form of Italian sovereignty over
lume, ne could not avoid the concius-
on" that the agreement of January IA
"Opens the way for Italian control OF
siume's foreign affairs The president
aid he felt the original agreement gave
roper protection 10 the railway con-
.ecting t'iume with the interior, but that
he agreement OF January II established
tally "in dominating military positions
lose to the railway at q number Of
ritical points" The new agreement. his
ote said. partitions the Albanian
eople among three different alien
overs, while the original agreement
reserved it's unity 'in large measure
Robbed Settlement OF Justice.
All these provisions, the presidents
ote said, negotiated without the know
dge or approval of the American gov
changed the face Of the whole
tContinasd ON B.s> Cw>-)