Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-27

! II does not appear feasible TO secure
! acceptance of the just nnd generous con-
ccsslops offered by the British, French and
American governments TO Italy in the
| JOINT memorandum Of those powers of
December o, 1910, which tho President
already clearly stated to be the maximum
concession that the government Of the
United States can offer, tho President
desires 10 say that he must take under
serious consideration the withdrawal OF
the treaty with Germany and the agree
mcnt between the United States and
france of June ~, 1919, which arc now
before the Senate and permitting the
terms of the European settlement TO be
independently established and enforced
by the Associated Governments
There was no missaking the determina-
tion of the President in the minds of the
British aud French Premiers who devote
four pages OF their reply Of February IL
To consideration of the Presidents threat
THE governments of France ard
Great Britain" says the Millcrsrd- LLOYD
George note of the 18th. view with con
sternation tho threat Of the United States
government to withdraw from the Comfy
Of Nations because il docs pot agree with
the precise terms of the Adriatic settle
ment.
The British and French Premiers then
stated their view that President Wilson
and his colleagues at Paris, recognizing
the difficulty of reconciling ethnographic
and other considerations. had agreed 20
the best settlements practicable at the
time because their machinery %. peaceful
adjustment had come into being
In support of their argument that
chronological reasons cannot be the only
ones to be taken into account, the British
and Ere lch Premiers point TO the fact that
5000 0o1 Germans were included in
Csechoslovakia and 3.500.000 Ruthenes
were placed under Polish control The
President was informed by the PremierE
that, while the British representatives NJ
Paris saw serious objection 10 this arrange
ment, the British Government did not
consider itself justi cd on that account in
reconslderlng their membership in tho
proposed League oi Nationsl
The Governments Of France and
Great Britain asserted the Premier
note of February II, therefore earnestly
trust that whatever the final view Of the
United States rs 10 the Adriatic settlement
may be, they will not wreck the whole
machinery for dealing with international
disputes by withdrawing from the treaties
of 1919 because tbeir view is not
lhen, after asserting that the with
drawal of the United States from the 1910
treaties would break the hope of the world
that changing conditions and require
ments of mankind could be adjusted by
processes Of reason and justice instead Of
ty the balancing of armaments and
reports to war, tho Allied Premiers con-
cluded with this declaration TO the Presi- /
dent.
The Governments of France and Great /
Britain cannot believe that il is the pur- /
pose of the American people to take a !
step so far reaching and terrible in it's effect /
On the ground which has the appearance /
Of being SO inadequate.
President Wilson's reply makes no
further direct allusIou t0 his threat of
Feb. 10, but there is a reiteration of IL i
between the lines when the note a Is
closely analyzed. and it is not doubted .
here that ii the Adriatic, Turkish and
other settlements are made, either with +
put the consultation OF the United States +
Or on principles contrary to those for /
which the President fought At Paris ,
be will take under serious consider +
alton the withdrawal OF the two treaties,
and permit the terms Of European
settlement To he Independently estab- .
ished by the associated governments f"
The President has replied that while
ne has no desire whatever 10 "critici e
he attitude of England and France to-
ward the Adriatic settlement be does feel I
hat IN the present circumstances he has
10 choice but TO maintain the position be
has taken all along regarding that set
lement.
NO RIGHT TO DISPOSE OF JuGosLAvs.
Declaring that the central principle for
shich the war was fought was that no
overnments have the right TO dispose Of
he territory or determine the political
llegiance of any free people, and his
elief that the FIVE great powers (includ-