The Washington herald., 1920-02-27
Wilson Note Puts Adriahc
Problem Up to Jugo-Slaus
And Italians for Solution
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associated governments as to what
constitutes equity and justice in in
ternational dealings: for differences
of opinion as to the best methods of
applying just principles have never
obscured the vital fact that in the
main the several governments have
entertained the same fundamental
conception of what those principles
are.
But If substantial agreement on
what is just and reasonable is not
to determine International issues;
if the country possessing the most
endurance in pressing les demands
rather than the country armed with
a just cause is to gain the support
of the powers: IL forcible seizure
of coveted areas is to be permitted
and Condoned, and is to receive
ultimate justification by creating
situation so difficult that decision
favorable to the aggressor is deem
ed a practical necessity; IL delib-
erately melted ambition is, under
the name of national sentiment, to
be rewarded at the expense of the
small and the week; IL, in a word,
the old order of things which
brought so many evils on the world
is still to prevail. then the time is
not yet come when this government
can enter a concert of powers the
very existence of which must de-
pend upon a new spirit and a new
order.
Possibility OF Withdrawal.
THE American people are willing
to share in such high enterprise; ;
but many among them are fearful
lest they become entangled in in
ternational obligations foreign
alike to their ideals and their ira
ditions. To commit them to such a
policy as that embodied in the lat
est Adriatic proposals, and to obli-
gate them to maintain injustice as
against the claims of justice, would
be to provide the most solid ground
for such fears. This government
can undertake no such grave re-
sponsibility.
The President desires to say that
il it does not appear feasible to
secure acceptance of the just and
generous concessions offered by the
British, French and American gov
ernments to Italy in the joint men,
orandum of those powers of De-
cember Q, 1919. which the President
has already clearly stated to be the
maximum concessions that the gov
ernment of the United States can
offer the President desires to say
that he must take under serious
consideration the withdrawal of the
treaty with Germany and the agree
ment between the United States
and France of June 2S, 1919. which
are now before the Senate and per-
mitting the terms of the European
settlement to be Independently es-
tablished and enforced by the as
sociated governments"
In reply. Lloyd George and Mil
Ierand entreat Americas continued
participation in a so-called allied
effort toward world peace. They go
so far as to question the right of
the President to withdraw the
treaty on the inadequate" grounds
of his Fiume difference.
AngIO-French Explanations.
The English and French Premiers
deny that they Slipped over" the
Jugo-Slav ultimatum on the Presi-
dent. They allege that it Is the
natural outcome" of the Anglo
Franco American agreement of last
December in view Of new condi-
tions. The absence of an American
representative from the supreme
council is criticised and the present
international confusion traced to it.
This communication of Lloyd
George and Millerand is a study in
diplomacy. The Delphic oracle was
never more elusive than the Eng
lish and French Premiers. This
particular note is known to have
made Acting Secretary of State
reason to believe that the President
found 1t particularly tantalizing.
France and England in their note
of February II undoubtedly sug-
gested the route Of the Presidents
latest diplomatic journey. However,
it is, they certainly show a new
spirit of independence toward the
White House, at least.
They have left keys In several
gateways, as If time could only in
dicate the most practical one.
Although there is the suggested
probability of the healing of the
breach with America, the allies in
innate the possibility of the part
ing of the ways.
Food for Thought.
There is a whole banquet of food
for thought in the final paragraph
of the last Anglo-F French commune
cation to America. The govern
ments of France and Great Britain"
one reads, therefore, earnestly
trust that whatever the final view
OF the United States government as
to the Adriatic settlement may be
they will not wreck the whole ma
chinery for dealing with interna-
tional disputes by withdrawing from
the treaties of 1919 because their
view Is not adopted in this par
ticular case
THAT would b. 10 destroy the
hopes now entertained by countless
millions of people all over the world
that the most enduring and most
beneficentp part of the Treaty of Peace
was the constitution of the ma
chinery whereby the defects of
treaties could be remedied and that
changing conditions and require