New-York tribune., 1920-02-17
Presidents Action Taken
Not as Ultimatum but
as Indicating Desire
to Renew Negotiations
Answer Is Expected
To Be Sent To-day
Statement to Parliament
by Lloyd George on the
Situation Is Predicted

PARIS, Feb. 16.-In semi official
quarters it was said tonight that
the Allied reply to President Will
sons memorandum regarding the
Adriatic settlement will assure the
President that the Allied proposal
Of January 20 is not as unfavorable
to the Jugo-Slavs as he believes.
The note will be brief, consistins4
of about $50 words, and, accordin
to these quarters, will say it is re
ognized that the Allies cannot set,
the question without the cooperate
Of the United States, inviting n
President to present a solution
the Adriatic problem.
President Wilson's note is not cor
sidered in French official circles
an ultimatum, it was declared tc
day by Foreign Office official.
Official View Differs
On such partial information e.
was obtainable yesterday the Pa,
press construed the note as meanilie
that France and Great Britain mus
change their attitude on that uues
ton or the United States woul
withdraw from all connection wit
European affairs.
The official view, however, is tta.
rather than an ultimatum, the not
is simply renewal of direct nego
tiations by the United States. TIL,
reply of the Allies, represented il
the press here as a categoric main
tenance of their. attitude by Grea
Britain and France, was described
by the Foreign Office official as
merely continuance of the nego-
tiations.
While the version OF the Allies re.
ply TO President Wilson given mos.
credence here is thai it is a simple
of their viewpoint, it
stated on good authority that it
really an invitation 20 continue nege.
tiations with the view of finding Il.
best possible early solution of the 6i.
ficulty
L. S. Always Considered
1t was stated that one of the upper
most cares in French official circle.
in al! negotiations since the Unites
States ceased 10 be officially repre-.
sented has been to avoid even the ap-
pearance OF any marelver against the
United States or against the viewpoint
OF its representatives.
While President Wilson's interven-
ten q this time was a great surprise
the Foreign Office official said, it i.
considered rs rasirluf- IN ct d r,c
by the United States s.
the peace negotiations, and this is pa
ticu.arly satisfactory. rom the sa,
u was learned that The All es
never had desired to ignore Ame,i,t
In the negotiations for a settlement
the Adriatlc question. They were co.
PEELED, the official asserted, to -c
ahead with the efforts to settle pro-
lem which threatened to prolong til
which proceeds III great measure tn
economic stagnation which American
hnanciera are calling upon France to
put an end TO.
The notes exchanged on the subject
probably viii be published simultane-
ously IN Washington, Paris and London.
LONDON, Feb. ,6--The reply of the
Allied Supreme Council to President
Wilson's noee relative to the PROPOSED.
Adriatic compromise was not dis.
patched to Washington to-day, il was
learned after meeting of the council.
Inc council was engaged in compiet-
ing the draft of its reply.
Paris Views Too Sweeping
1t is stated authoritat.vely that the
forecast of the Allied reply published
IN france should be taken with reserve
~ also was stated that the report from
france that President Wilson an
nounced that the United States would
hold aloof from European affairs nm
less the United States was considered
IN the settlement of the Adriatic cues.
ton was 100 sweeping.
The council finally will decide On l.,
reply to President Wilson to-morrow
ana it VIII be Immediately cabled Il
" Washington. The council is cabline
to the United States government trs
repcr.s on its deliberations or de-.
clsions N which It considers the
United States is Interested.
According TO "The Evening News, =
draft of the reply to President VIII
sons note, which has been prepared, is
coHched II very direct language, and,
It is said, would increase the tension
OF the situation.
THE Premier" adds The News"
has decided, in view Of the Importance
OF the situation, to make statement
on the matter in Parliament in reply 10
private question"
Note Widely Specuiated On
Various versions of the contents os
President Wilson's note are in circula
ton here. II is a document of some
length. according to unofficial but usu-
ally vel! informed quarters, tie note
covering eight typewristen pages, ad-
dressed to Great Britain and France,
which it alludes 20 in friendly terms al
the very beginning The differences
between the memorandum o: December
and the compromise reached in Paris
on January 20 are examined at length
especially regarding the line in Istria
drawn by President Wilson in .Decem,