The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-03-11
By EDWARD M. PlcKARp.


The Adriatic in general and Fiume
in particular provided the main topic
of international discussion last week
and there was much excited talk in the
world capitals. Premiers Lloyd George,
Millerand and Nitti thought they had
arranged neat settlement of the
Adriatic trouble and had called on
Jugo-Slavia to accept it. with the al
tentative of having the principles of
the pact of London applied. But they
were reckoning without President Will
son, probably because he seemed to
have withdrawn himself to a great ex-
tent from the discussions over the sub
ject. AS soon as he learned what the
big Three" had done. Mr. Wilson
projected himself into the affair with
a note that tipped over their apple
cart and brought them to realization
that he was still to be considered. He
declared that he cauld not consent to
the solution reached by the premiers
and called attention to the discrepan-
cieS between it and the settlement of
the problem agreed upon in December
at the London conference, in which the
United States was represented. Then
he added a postscript that was the
real singer. Despite denjals in Wash
ington, it is quite certain that in this
postscript Mr.. Wilson told the pre-
miers that unless they receded from
their position he would take into seri-
Gus consideration the withdrawal of
the United States from the treaty Of
Versailles and from the treaty be-
tween the United States and France.
OF course q considerable portion of
the press IN the allied countries was
enraged by this note and roundly
abused Mr.. Wilson, but the statesmen
and others we'll informed recognized
the -sohndness of his position and the
fact that the Withdrawal of America
from further concern in the peace set
Element would be disastrous The al
lied council sent a reply TO Washing
ton which, while it urged the difficulty
of inducing the rival interests to con-
. sent 10 the December solution, was ex-
ceedingly 'conciliatory in tone and
asked the president TO indicate what
practical steps can be taken TO carry
out the earlier agreement, under which
Fiume was to be created into a free
state unfer the League of Nations and
the prinsipEe of self-determination was
to be applied to the Dalmatian coast.
The situation is extremely delicate and
there are not a few who predict that
the outcome will be another war, with
Italy and Jugo-Sfayia as the contend
ers. From the beginning Mr.. Wilson
has insisted that Jugo-Slavia should
not be shut off from the sea by italian
territory, and in this country. at least,
this contention is generally supported.
There is no unfriendliness toward
Italy, but feeling that she has al
ready enough seaports; and the SYM
patlly with the new republic of the
Serbs, Greats and Slovenes is marked.
The American government wished to
make public the notes exchanged in
this affair, and took steps TO obtain the
consent of Great Britain, France and
Italy. This is in accord with the prin-
eiple of f'open covenants openly ar
rived att which Mr. Wilson vainiy
tried to make effective when he went
TO Paris The first time.
It is known that the president holds
that America, as co-belligerent in the
war, is actively interested in the set
Element of the Adriatic dispute, despite
the fact that it has not ratified the
peace treaty. Also. he holds that we
are equally interested in thelquestions
concerning the breaking up of the