The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-02-20
WILSON AND THE ALLIES

President Wilson has resumed con-
troll of affairs explosive. He has not
only created sensation in the United
States, but he has caused one in Ed
rope. While he was removing Mr..
Lansing from the office of Secretary
of State by epistolary pressure he
was notifying the allies of his return
to a condition of activity by an ulti-
matum on the Adriatic question. 1t
seems that they, too, had been endeav-
cring to "carry on" during the period
of his withdrawal. They also had
great problems that pressed for solu-
ton, and they assumed the authority
to reach a decision without the APP
prevail of Mr.. Wilson, who was be-
You'd the reach of consultation. We
do not know exactly what he has said
to them, but it appears that he eX-
pressed vigorous objection to the set
Element Of the Adriatic question on
the lines agreed upon by the allied gov
ernments a few weeks ago, and gave
them to understand that the United
States would have no further partici-
patton in the matter unless this gov
eminent were consulted. That is the
way it is given out in Washington,
but Paris announces that he has
threatened to withdraw entirely from
the consideration of European affairs
| if his demands are not granted. The
reports are too conflicting, both as to
the nature of the Presidents message
and as to its effect upon the action of
the allies, to justify an opinion on the
specific merits Of this particular de-
velopment But on general principles
we think the country would have been
much better satisfied if the President
had silently acquiesced in the program
agreed upon by the allies.
1t has been in the first place, a
matter exceedingly difficult to adj
| just, and it has seemed to be impossi-
bic to reach a settlement satisfactory
to all concerned. To make Fiume a
free city under the League Of Nations
appears to be a reasonable compro-
mise, and it is difficult to see upon
what grounds the President can ade-
quately justify his present objections.
In the second place, it is not a mat
ter that particularly concerns the
I United States. There may be an i'm
portant principle involved in it some
where, but we are unable to discern it
with the naked eye, and, besides, we
are exceedingly weary Of controver-
sy that interests US so little and
which seems to be so unnecessary.
Nearly year ago, in April, when the
President issued his ultimatum to
Paris, we expressed an opinion about
the Fiume matter, and we have not
changed our mind about it since.
"Fiume," we said, "has become the
microscopic disturber of the earth's
peace. 1t is as if the procession of
the equinoxes had been thrown out of
step by gnat. 1t does not seem
credible that so vast an issue can rest
upon the point of pin. Few in Amer
lea, we are certain, care a picayune
what becomes of Fiume. We know
nothing about it before the war. We
could continue in blissful ignorance of
, it's existence hereafter But the Pres
ident holds that the principles upon
which the armistice was signed must
apply to all the conditions of peace
that is made, and that these princi-
pies, which have been adhered to in
relation to Germany, would be violat-
ed by the cession of Fiume to Italy.
We question, but in the light of our
present information we cannot answer
with any satisfaction to ourselves. We
are simply amazed and chagrined that
SO insignificant cause should threat
en- such prodigious effects"
At that time, it will be remembered,
it seemed quite possible that the FL
ume matter would upset the whole
peace arrangement. Sucha calami-
tous result was only averted by de-
ferring decision on this subject until
after the German treaty was safely
out of the way. So it is that the ques-
ton is still with us, but if possible it
is even more insignificant now than
then. If mountain was made out Of
mole hill year ago, as it seemed to
us, we are unable to find -satisfac-
tory diminutive term to express the
present relation. There may be, as
we have said, principle in this mat
ter that we ought to contend for I'M
| yieldingly, but it wholly eludes Mis-
souri, vision. Our veneration for es-
sential principles of conduct is as pro-
found, we believe, as that of the Pres
ident, but we are unable to follow him
in his microscopical distinctions. -
Globe Democrat. sgf ~