The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-08
Letter to the Allies Maintains POSI-
and Declares There Is No Excuse
Revival of Pact of London
Will Continue to Oppose any Solution Of
Problem Not Based on the Agreement Of I
cember 9th, He Reiterates

Washington, March president
Wilson's reply 10 the allies in the
Fiume controversary IL. as already
forecast, an announcement of his de-
termina zion to stand by the agreement
OF December ?, which was entered
into by the United States. Great
Britain and France.
The state department today made
public the text OF tho note and ii is
believed that another reply will be
forthcoming from the British aud
French 'pfemiers chiefly because tire
president explains that he will not
sanction any partitioning OF Albania
even though such a step might bring
an agreement between Italy and
Jugo -Slayia.
The president expresses resentment
over the intention Of the British and
French 10 withdraw the agreement Of
December and proceed on a new
basis. He holds that this agreement
is - the basis of reference represent
ing the combined opinions of these
governments" The president takes
the view that il the December ninth
memora ndum wero Fat aside, the al
lies would have an excuse for reviv-
ing the pact of I."ndcn, which was
drawn up in secrecy during Ase war.
and he is unalterably opposed to
this.
No words are minced by the presi-
dent in expressing his antagonism to-
wards The pact Of London. He says
blunty that he is upable to find in
the "exigeneies o. military strate&sy'
sufficient warrant for exercising such
secrecy with Serbia, a government
which was Intimately associated in
the task of defending human free
, dom AMI VIII called upon for I'M
limited assistance and untold treas
ure
The president recalls to the prem
iers, ~ response to their plant that
they ware nconyepienced by the
ahsence of IN American representa-
tive with pienary rewer in the latter
day conferences. that many times de-
cisions py the auprenie council were
delayed because British and French
representatives bad nct ohtained sne
views OF their governments.
~ In short. is apparent that the
presiden: W. Continue to oppose any
solution OF the Aarjatic problem that
/. IS not based on the agreement of De-
cember . and that he Will stand out
to the end against solution predi-
Gated upon the terms OF the treaty OF
London.
PRESIDENTS REPLY
The following is .hc presidents re-
ply. despatched March fourth:
The president desires to express
his sincere and cordial interest in re-
Spouse Of the French and British
prime ministers received on February
81. He notes with satisfaction shel-
unaltered desire to reach an equitable
solution in conformity alike with this
principles of the peace conference
and of the legitimate, though con
fiicting aspirations OF the italian and
Jugo-Slav peoples. He further well
comes th.i< expressed intention re
carding certain essential points, 'tc
, urge upon the governments interested
that they should bring their desires
| into liIe with the American point Of
view.
The president is surprised. how
ever. that they should find in The
! statement of his own willingness II
! leave to the joint agreement of ital-
IAN and Jugo-Slavia the sett ?!emen
| OF their common frontiers In th'