The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-17
Wilson Note to Allies as to Ad-
riatiC "Not in Nature of
Threat"
ONLY SEQUENCE EVENTS
Official Statement Made at
Washington Denies "Ulti-
matum Was Issued.

Washington, Feb. 17.-Presi.
dent Wilson in h. "memoran.
dunn" to the allies concerning
their proposed Adriatic settle
ment Informed them that the
United States mig have to con- q.
sloer withdrawing the treaty of
versailles from the senate if the
allies went ahead with their plans
without the consent of the United
States.
Thls statement was made officially
here today. wi the further state
ment that the American position was
outlined not in the nature of a
threat. but as a statement of a sit
uatlon created mot by the act of the
American governn. .ent, but by the act
OF the Italian, French and British
premiers. which would place the
United States in the position, if it
We're party to the treaty of Ver-
sallles, of subscribing through the
pact to rights of sovereignty and
other agreements to which it was
opposed"
Two lnseparabIe.
The treaty of Versailles and the
Anglo Franco American pact are
considered inseparable as far us this
question is concerned and il Presl-
dent Wilson should determine to
withdraw the treaty of Versailles, it
would mean the American -Erench
pact would be withdrawn at the
same time, 1t was explained.
State department officials take the
position that the French press is en-
deavoring through setting up a cry
OF threat on the part of the Amer
lcan government, to place the blame
for the situation which has arisen
az Americas S door, INSTEAD of on
, the acts of the foreign premiers,
where it belongs"
1t was reiterated that on Dec. 8
before Acting Secretary Polk left
Paris the American, British and
French representatives hal agreed
on settlement of the Adriatic ques-
tion and it was charged that subse-
quently without consulting the
United States, the allied premiers
sitting at Paris adopted a new agree
ment which was transmitted to Am
bassador Wallace for the approval of
the American government.
This, it is said came as a great
surprise to the American govern
ment, which sent a communication
to the premiers asking whether they
proposed to settle the question with
out consulting the American govern
ment. The premiers were said to
have replied that they did not Intend
to do so, but later sent an ultimatum
to Jugo-Slavia that unless it ac-
cepted the new settlement the terms
of the original treaty of London
would be carried out.
Deal Of Confusion.
There is a great deal of confusion
here as to the exact status of the
Adriatic negotiations because of the
apparently conflicting information
coming from different official sources,
There has been no authorized Off
cial statement from any specific
source. although varying interpreta-
Fions of President Wilson's Commu-
nication have been given from the
White House and the state depart
ment 1t is apparent there are some
differences in the use of diplomatic
terms, the presidents communication
having been described as u note at
ssne source and as a memorandum at
Fhnother The communication fur
thermore is described by officials
here as containing a statement of
fact and outlining policy rather
than containing a threat as described
in the dispatches from abroad.
Whether the president actually
has threatened to withdraw the
treaty probably will develop to be
matter~of Interpretation of language,
but all officials here disclaim that
it was a threat, at least in the diplo-
matte sense of the term.
Americans Essential
Paris, Feb. 17.-The allied reply to
President Wilson's Adriatic note, it
was declared on good authority to-
day, differs only in form from fore
casts already printed in the French
newspapers. but is not as long as
was originally represented.
The French attitude, it was said
at the foreign office this afternoon,
has never changed regarding Amer
lean participation in the various
peace negotiations and it is still held
that American cooperation is essen
tial to the readjustment of the
worlds affairs
In the Adriatic question, it is
pointed out, France and Great Brit
ain are put in a dilemma, the Ital-
ians in advance of any other salts
factory arrangement holding them to
execution of the treaty of London.
.On the other hand. President VIII
son, while repudiating the London
treaty, resists other settlements ac-
Ceptable to Italy.
Absolute Falsehood.
Officials earlier characterized as "an
absolute falsehood." the statement OF
"Pertinax' in the Echo de Paris, that
tie postscript of Mr.. Wilson's memo
randum from which the note was
drawn up contained such a threat
1t was said the presidents message
TO the allies WAS not an ultimatum;
that it was in the form Of "a 'memoran-
dunn" containing eight or ten lines.
and that il set forth that the United
states would stand on the agreement
TO which it was "a party when the pres
ident was ir Paris. Under the agree
ment the United states was 10 Doe one
of the first nations 10 police the Adria-
tic. President Wilson. discussed the
Adriatic question with Secretary Tu-
multy today and he left TO the discre-
tion Of Acting Secretary Polk the ques-
tion Of whether the state department
should make public statement Of
Americas position.
Despite statements made somioffi-
ciauy yesterday that the president
threatened to withdraw from pHrttcipa-
tion in the patrol Of the Adratic, IL
was declared today that the president
had made no threats.
II was stated today that ihs prcsl-
dent had simply reanrmcd hIs position
as to the Iiume question and had nott-
ned the allied power. that iuasWurh
as this nation mad agreed 'u proposed
settlement Of that question during the
p.acc conference that there should be
no change in that settlownt without
The consent OF this government
statement Forthcoming.
4 formal state .nt uu tho president 81
A3ristie protest may be- fHTiHgpmiug
later in the dHN. % was stai'd