Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-04

Fortunate demands for alien territories
to which she can present no valid title"
The American government. the Presi-
dents nots said. ''feels that 1t cannot
sacrifice the principles for Uh.ah II en-
tered the war to crafty the improper
ambitions OF one of its nssooia or TO
pu-chace temporary appearance of calm
in tho Adrta:ic at the price OF future
world cCHfagration. 1t Is unwilling to
recognize either an unjust settlement
based on a secret treaty. the terms of
vh'ch arc inconsistent with the new world
conditions. or an unjust settlement ar
rived at by employing that secro, treaty
AS an instrument of coercion.
The President wound I'D his note by
saying that IL the maximum conces-
sions made In the memorandum of De-
cember could be acce pied the Prcai-
don't desires 20 say that lie must take
under serious consideration the with
drawal of the treaty with Germany and
the agresr,cnt between the United
States and Frenct (the Franco Amer
lean allianc. which are now before tho
Senate and permitting the terms Ut
the European settlement. to be irde-
peTdently established and enforced bs
the associated governments"
MILLERAND's REToRT
hfllerand, who had succeeded Gle
rncnceau as premier OF France, and
Lloyd George replied undor date of
-. saying. there was no foundation for
the assumption that the new settle
mont involves a. capitulation to the
Italian point OF view an opposed to the
Jugo- Slave
The premiers remarked that Presi-
dent Wilson had ignored the great
advantage conferred on Jugo- Slavia
at the same time
In their discussions they had found
they said that Nobody desired the
consumation of the free state Of
Fiume," and that the net upshot" Of
the agreement was to give Jugo-
Slavia 100000 more Jugo-Slavs than
the original proposal.
The premiers found "difficulty in
understanding the present attitude of
the United States" and hoped their ex
plantations would lead to re-considera
ton of Presidents Wilson's attitude.
They disclaimed any desire ito force a
settlement unacceptable to the Presi
dent Of the United States" and added
they would not attempt to insis on it's
acceptance until after hearing his
views.
PRESIDENT DOES NOT BULGE
President Wilson's note of February "a
the last diplomatic paper in the record.
begins by saying the President feels that
in the present circumstances he has not
choice but to maintain the position he
has taken all along" and reiterates the
principles enunciated on Americas entry
into the war. He adds: I'm the opinion
of the American government the terms
of the peace settlement must continue
|
principles for which America entered the
war" BY writing into the treaty of Yer
sailles article ten Of the league covenant
the President said his position was that
the powers associated against Germany
had "foregone all territorial aggression
and all interference with the free political
! self-determnation OF the peoples of the
world" The Presidents reply says that
while Italy has accepted the substitute
project for the free state of Fiune the
Jugo-Slavs have not accepted it. The
! Presidents note says that while "the
three-fold division of Albania in the
British agreement might be most ac-
| oeptablc to tho Jugo-Slav government ="
he is 'just as vigorously opposed to in
juring the Albanian people for the benefit
of Jugo Slavia" as he is to "injurng the
Jugo-Slav people for the benefit OF
| Italy"
The course to fall back on the treaty
of London, it said, was followed with
| out any attempt to seek the views of this
| government"
| In conclusion, referring to ltaly's
sacritces advanced in the correspondence
as reason for her claims, the Presidents
| reply says:
"Such considerations cannot he made
the reason for unjust settlements which
, will he provocative OF future wars"