The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-27
.F|UnE QUESTION
IS REOPENED
Wilson Objects to Change With
out Consulting America
HIS NOTE NOT AN ULTlMATUM'
America VIII Not Withdraw From
All Participation In Treaty Ar
rangements II Proposed Com
promise Is insisted Upon.

Washington. Decided objection to
recognition of settlement OF the
Adr!atic question on lines repugnant
to those agreed upon in the Treaty OF
Versailles and not reconciliable with
the principles embodied in the four
teen points of President Wilson was
expressed by the United States in the
recent note to the Allied governments.
The note was not threat to with
draw from participation in European
affairs, it was said officially at the
White House, but said that this
country could not be a party to the
disposition Of Fiume as agreed upon
by the Allied premiers, without con-
suhing the United States and conse-
quently would not concern itself with
the questions involved, including the
policing of the Adriatic, if the settle,
ment were enforced on the govern
ment of Jugo-Slavia.
The next step of the Washington
government waits on the reply OF the
Allied premiers to the American note.
The interesting suggestion was made
in official quarters that the United
States might cease its European re-
lief work which the Allies have been
anxious this country should continue,
to keep down unrest if a modification
of the peace treaty were put into ef-
feet which the United States would
regard as contrary to the principle of
self determination.
The facts which influenced the De-
partment of State in framing the new
American note were as follows:
December last, at a meeting OF
the Supreme Council in Paris set
Element of the Adriatic question was
agreed upon, which to become eff
fectiye required acceptance by both
the Italian and the Jugo-Slav govern
ments The basis of this, in brief.
was the creation of buffer state of
F'iume and adjacent territory, and
America, as represented by Under
Secretary Polk, was party to the
arrangement.
After the withdrawal from Europe
of the American Peace Commission
ers and while the Adriat:c issue was
still subject of discussion between
the principal, meeting was held
in London of the Entente premiers,
Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Nitti,
and an entirely new plan was drawn
up without participation by America
and forwarded in the shape of an ulti-
matum of the Jugo-Slav government.
The basis of this was the recognition
of Haly's title to much Of the eastern
coast of the Adriatic and Dalmatia,
and there were other substantial adj
ditions to Italian claims which did
not agree in principle with the orig
inal understanding.
The latest American note was in
the nature of protest against this
method of procedure. 1t was not an
ultimatum or threat, but pointed
out that if persisted in this would
leave the United States in the posi-
ton of being expected to ratify a
treaty which confirmed boundary
lines beyond readjustment which It
already had declared to be wrong.
And furthermore it was recalled that
this latest move had been made by
the premiers without consultation or
advice from the Washington govern
ment, though this country would be
bound to abide by the results should
it ratify the treaty.