New-York tribune., 1920-02-20
His Original Position Re,
ported Restated With a
Degree of Finality; Next
Move Up to Premiers
London Will Get 1T
Today or Tomorrow
Stands ON Threat to With
draw Treaty Unless us.
Participates in Decision

son to-day prepared and sent to the
State Department a reply to the
Entente Premiers' note on the
Adriatic question. He is understood
to have restated the position of the
American government with a degree
of finality.
Although the President dictated
his communication in less than two
hours, it probably will not be put on
the cables before tomorrow hight
or Saturday. An impression first
went out that it might be transmit
ted tonight.
The original draft as prepared by
Mr.. Wilson was sent to Acting Sec
retary Polk for his personal study,
as he was the head of the American
mission when the Adriatic settle
ment of December 8 was reached at
Paris with the consent and approval
Of the President and is, therefore,
thoroughly familiar with all the pre-
liminary negotiations.
Affir1ns Original Position
After Mr.. Polk has completed his
examination of the document and it
has been put in the usual diplomatic
form, it probably will be returned to
the White House for final approval
before it is dispatched to Ambassa-
dor Davis at London for presenta-
ton to the Premiers.
The President is understood to have
adhered to the position taken in his
note Of February 10. in which he in
formed the Allies that if they were to
proceed to a settlement of the Adriatic
question without the participation of
the American government situation
might be created where the United
States might have to consider whether
it could become a party TO the treaty
Of Versailles and the Franco American
pact
Puts Decision Up to Premiers
While conciliatory, the Premiers' re-
ply to this original note was argumen-
tative. Mr.. Wilson in his answer is un-
derstood to have met this argument
point by point and is believed to have
again called attention to the principle
Of self determination, as enunciated in
his fourteen points and his other decla-
! rations during the war, which were ac-
cepted by the Central Powers as the
basis for peace.
Although it makes clear that the
American government has not changed
the position it took when the original
Adriatic agreement was made at Paris,
the Presidents note is not regarded as
The final chapter in the negotiations.
The Premlers in their reply to the
original communication are said to
have left the way open for agreement
along the lines previously accepted by
of the American note it will be for
them to decide whether the ultimatum
previously sent to JugoSlavia embody-
ing the settlement to which the United
States did not subscribe will stand.
Suggestions coming from Europe
that the course Of the Allies in pro-
ceeding to a settlement of the Adri-
attic situation without the participation
OF the United States might be attrib-
uted to desire for speed and a con-
sideration of the necessary delay in
euple exchanges between w Coll
and the Entente capitals were given
only passing attention here.
Insist on Self determination
1t was recalled that when the Ameri-
can peace delegates left Paris for home
IN December there was an agreement
that questions remaining to be settled
would be adjusted through the Entente
foreign Offices and the American State
Denartn,op+ Tho A1l;oo coptipuoI tO
be represented by their premiers, and
Ambassador Wallace was present as
an observer for the American govern
ment. but the understanding here was
that the Supreme Council as such
ceased to exist
From the Allied viewpoint it is said
that tie seizure of Fiume by Dan
nunzio has created changed situation
IN the Adria+ic, and that speedy set
tiement which would eliminate him as
factor without resort to force was
desirable.
1t is understood that this view is not
subscribed to here. 1t is said that a
temporary impediment should not
weigh against the fundamental princi-
pie OF differentiation. In the opin-
ION here the problem resulting from
uAnnunzio's seizure of Fiume will in
Vme solve itself through the natural
operation of economic forces.
Dictates Reply in Two Hours
AS has been anticipated in Washing
lon, the essential points of the Allied
reply to the Presidents note Of the
ioth have become known in some of
1he Entente countries. State Depart
ament officials, however, continue to re-
ram from divulging it's contents in ad-
vance Of an agreement for the publica-
Non OF the exchanges, which now is be-
ing sought
The Allied note was delivered to
olresident Wilson after it reached the
state Department yesterday, and he
spent the late afternoon and evening
~. ~ a careful study of it. Immediately
slser breakfast this morning he sum-
nhioned his confidential stenographer to
ms study and dictated his reply. The
taompleted transcript was delivered to
saeeing Secretary Polk within two
Neither White House nor State De-
.e.srtnsnt officials would say how long
.pe document was, but it il believed
snss 1t - shorter than the Presidents
Slsnous note. which contained some
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