Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-08

Notes on Adratic Situation
Accepts Settlement Propos-
al With Resercatiins

al WIN hcSeTCa
Washington, Mar. S.-Whiie ex.
pressing satisfaction at the ''unaitered
desire Of the allied leaders to reach
an equitable solution" President
Wilson in his last note to the French
and British premiers accepts with
and Jugo-Slavia themselves be permit
ted to settle the Adriatic dispute.
While the president refused to agree
to withdrawal of the British French
American memorandum of December
9, he indicated his unalterable opposi-
ton to the execution of the terms Of
the treaty of London except insofar as
the United States government may
be convinced that those term are in
trinsically just and are consistent with
the maintenance of peace and settled
order in southeastern Europe"
Leave Albania Out.
While he said he would gladly ap-
prove a mutual settlement between
Italians and the -Slavs which
would be prejudice to the interests of
any third nation, the president de-
clared he cannot possibly approve
any plan which assigns to Jugo- -Slavia
in the northern districts of Albania ter
ritorial compensation for what she is
deprived. of elsewhere" Albanian
questions, he further said should not
be included in the proposed joint dis
cussions.
If Italy and Jugo -Slavia. he said,
prefer to abandon the so-caled buffer
state and desireto limit the proposed
free state to the copus separatum Of
Fiume, placing the sovereignty in the
league of nations, the United States IL
willing to leave the determination of
the common frontier to Italy and
Jugo-Slavia.
The text of the presidents reply was
made public last night.
Text of Note.
President Wilson's note to the pre-
miers on the Adriatic ituation follows:
''The president desires to express his
sincere and cordial interest in the re-
sponse of the French and British
prime ministers received on February
27. He notes with satisfaction their
unaltered desire to reach an equitable
solution in conformity alike with the
principles of the peace conference and
of the legitimate though conflicting
aspirations of the Italians and Jugo-
Slav people. He further welcomes their
expressed intention regarding certain
essential points to urge upon the gov
ernments interested that they should
bring their desires into line with the
American point of view
''The president is surprised, how
ever, that they should find in the
statement of his own willingness 70
leave to the joint agreement of italy
and Jugo -Slavia the settlement Of their
common frontiers in the Fiume region
any ground for suggesting the with
drawal Of the joint memorandum of
December 3. In this he could not pos
sibly join. The memorandum repre-
sents deliberate and distinteresfed
after months of earnest dis
cussion. 1t constituted more than a
mere exchange Of views; 1t was state
ment of principles and a recapitlua-
tion Of the chief points upon whlcr
agreement had been reached.
There was thus afforded sum
mary review Of these points Of agree
ment OF the French, British and Amer
lean governments and the memoran-
dun should remain as 1t was intended
to be, the basis of reference represent
ing the combined opinion of these gov
ernments.
''In referring to the common from
tier in the Fiume region the president
had in mind the express desire Of the
two interested governments to aban-
don the project OF the free state OF
Fiume as defined In the memorandum
of December 9.
IF, as he understands. the govern
ment of Italy and the government OF
the -Croat-Sloyene state prefer 70
abandon the so-called buffer state con
tanning an overwhelming majority of
Jugo -slays and desire to limit the pro-
ROoth litC CAhAN " ttAE tVIVl8 HEDdIA-
tum of Fiume placing the sovereignty
in the league OF nations without either
Italian or Jugo-5Iay control then the
Of the United States is pre-
pared to accept this proposal and is
willing under such circumstances to
leave the determination of the common
frontier to Italy and Jugo-Slavia. In
this connection the president desires to
reiterate that he would gladly approve
a mutual agreement between the Ital-
ian and Jubo-Slav governments reach
ed without prejudice to the territorial
or other interests Of any third nation,
but Albanian questions should not be
included in the proposed joint discus
sion Of italy and Jugo-Siavia and the
president must reaffirm that he cannot
possibly approve any plan which as
signs TO Jugo-slayia in the northern
districts Of Albania territorial compen-
sation for what she is deprived of else
where. Concerning the economic out
lets for Jugo-siavia in the region OF
scutari suggested in the note under
reply. the president desires to refer TO
the memorandum of December . as
making adequate provisions to meet
The needs Of Jugo-siavia.
London Treaty ScorBed.
Regarding the character and ap-
-
fcontinued on Page FiVe.l