Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-20
PRESIDENT Sticks
OPPOSITION TAKEN
IN ADRIAT|C NOTE
Dispatches Indicate Pre-
miers' Rejoindei Is FAVOR
able and Asks That Sug-
gestions Be Made

SCS lIUIlO w tNC<AN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-2resi-
dent Wilson today completed ais re-
ply to the allied supreme councils
note on the Adriatic question and
| sent it to Acting Secretary Polk,
who is putting it in form for trans
initial to the council. 1t is expect"
ed to be on the cables before night
There was no indication as to. the
notes contents or its length. The
president began drafting it early
! this morning, and completed 1t In
two hours. The councils commune
cation was received only yesterday
and the speed with which the reply
was preapred here was said to con-
stitute something of a record.
The allied note received yester+
| day is about as long as the presiy
| dents first note" it was said at the
| White House. Reports from Lon
! don said the allied reply contained
| about 10000 words, and this figure
was accepted by White House Of
ficials as being approximately corr
rect.
| Comment on the reply was with
held and it will not be made public
without the approval of France,
Great Britain and Italy, but it was
learned authoritatively this govern
ment looks with favor on publica-
ton of exchanges and has taken
steps to ascertain the wishes OF
those governments. One reason the
publication is desired here Is to pre-
vent further prejudiced interpreta-
tons Of President Wilson'S note
/ IN
eign press. ...
Gable dispatches indicated the re-
ply was conciliatory and that the
whole question of Fiume and the
DaImatian littoral was at least re-
opened to negotiation. There was
suggestion also that the allied pre-
miers had asked the United States
to indicate the practical steps that
could be taken to carry out the orig
inal agreement as to the Adriatic,
under which Fiume was to be erect
ed into a free state under the
League of Nations and the principle
of elf-determination followed in
disposing of the Dalmatian coast.
Tt was said to be the European view
that the seizure of Fiume by dan
nunzio and his Italian troops had
brought about such a delicate situa-
ton that any attempt to restore the
status quo might bring about more
war.
President Wilson, 1t was learned,
has taken the position that this
Icountry is interested in the Aari-
latte settlement as a co-belligerent
in the war, despite the fact that the
treaty Of versailles has not been
ratified here. On similar questions,
such as those affecting Armenia and
Turkey, this country likewise is pre-
Ipared to keep in close touch with de-
Icisions reached by the premiers at
their London conferences, at which
the United States is not represent
ed. All such decisions have to be
approved by the supreme council in
| Paris, meetings of which probably
will be attended in future by an
American representative to keep this
government in quick touch with
what is going on.
Adhereg to Position
The president went to his study
! at $3.50 a. m, and, summoning his
| stenogra pher, imn ediately 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 February 10.
1t is now pretty well established
that i'll that communication the
president informed the allied coun-
tries if they proceeded to a settle
| ment of the Adriatic question with
| out the consent and participation
of the. American government . the
United States might have to decide
| whether it could become a party to
| the treaty of Versailles and the
| Anglo French American pact.
The note received from the coQh
| Gil yesterday was sent to the White
House Immediately after it was de-
coded and the president studied it
very carefully during the afternoon
and evening. When he was ready TO
| begin work today he was understood
to have had his reply well outlined
in his mind and consequently was
able to dictate it in a short time.
The president was represented as
being perfectly willing for the eN-
| 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 de-
cision as to making the communica-
tions public will be reached until
the allied premers have been heard
! from. They have been approached
aS to thair wishes.