The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-19
WILSON DRAFTS
\ NOTE TO ALLIES
May Be CabIed Tonight-Ad-
heres to Position on Ad-
riatiC Question.
MAY PUBLISH ALLIED NOTE
Foreign Attitude Conciliatory
Question Reopened to
Negotiation.

W dNtllIlSlOll, ftDs III resi-
dent Wilson today completed his
reply TO the allied supreme coun-
ellis note on the Adriatic Ques-
tion and sent It to Acting Secre-
tary Polk, who is putting it in
form for transmittal TO the coun-
Gil. 1t is expected to he on the
cables before night.
The president began drafting the
reply early this morning and COM
pleted il in two hours, The councils
communication was received only
We 'erday and the speed with which
the reply was prepared here was said
to constitute something of n record,
The president went to his study at
$3.50 am, and, summonng his ste
nographer. Immediately began die
tating the reply. He was understood
TO have answered the councils con-
tention point for point and to have
adhered TO the position taken in his
note of Feb. 10. II is now pretty well
established that in that communica-
tion the president informed the allied
countries that If they proceeded to n
settlement of the Adriatic question
without the consent and participa-
tion of the American government, the
United States might have to decide
whether it could become a party to
the treaty of Versailles and the An
glo- French American pact.
Willing to Make Notes Public.
The note received from the council
yesterday was sent to the White
House Immediately after II was de-
coded, and the president studied IL
very carefully during the afternoon
and evening. When he was ready to
ln \ Il
to have had his reply wen outlined
in his mind and consequently was
able to dictate ii in n short time.
The president was represented as
being perfectly willing for the ex-
changes to be given TO the public
after he had completed his case"
which was done with the drafting OF
the note today. However, no decision
as to making the communication
public will be reached until the al
lied premiers have been heard from.
They have been approached as to
their wishes.
The allied note received yesterday
is about as long as the presidents
first note" 1t was said at the White
House. Reports from London said
the allied reply contained about 1000
words, and this figure was accepted
by white House ofliciaia as being APP
proXlmately correct.
With regard to making public The
documents in the Adrlauc oontro-
versy. the president is said to favor
such action. but the procedure in this
event would be to cable the allies
first for their permission and IL is
understood this has been done. II !
may be several days before the notes |
can be made public, It Is said.
Denies Disagreement.
The White House stated that re-
ports that there had been disagree
ment between the president and for |
mer Secretary of state Lansing on |
tho presidents AdriatIc protest were |
unfounded. 1t was stated that the
president wrote the protest himself |
and merely forwarded IT TO tho
state department for transmission
Reports OF the presidents state
ment as to withdrawal of the peace |
treaty from the senate as published |
In the Matin, of Paris, were said to |
be substantially correct However,
It was denied that this statement had |
been In the form of Il postscript II
was said the statement was made
IN tho body Of the note.
Gable dispatches indtCatcd the re-
ply was conciliatory and that tho
whole question Of Fiumo and the
Dalmatian littoral was at least re-
opened TO negotiation, There was a
also that the allied pre-
niers had asked the United Statos
o indicate the practical stops that
'ould he taken TO carry out the orig
nal agreement as 10 the Adriatic.
lndor which l'iumN was 10 bc erected
ntO n free state under the league of
lations and the principle OF so1f-dc-
ermination followed in disposlnR Of
he Dalmatlan coast
IL was said to be the European
'icw that the seizure of Flume by
)Annunzlo and his Italian troops
lad brought about such delicate
ltuation that any attempt 10 restore
he status quo might bring about
more war
President Wilson. It was learned.
las taken the position that this
country is interested I'm the Adriatic
cttlcmcnt us cobclligcront In the
var. despite the fact that the treaty
II Versailles has not been ratified
lcre. on similar questions. such as
hose affecting Armenia and Turkey
his country likewise rs prepared to
.ccp In close touch with decisions
cached by the prcmicrH at their Lon
lon conferences. at which the United
'tatcs is not represented Al such
have 20 bc approved by the
uprcmc council in Paris. meetings
# which probably viii hc attended
n future by an American representa-
i've To Keep this government lu quick
ouch with what is Eoing ON.
]