The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-03-19
PREM|ERS ASK AID
IN AOR|AT|C SNARL
WOULD WITHDRAW ALL PREV.
Gus OFFERS AND START ANEW
WITH PRESIDENTS HELP
.. S. ABSENCE BIG OBSTACLE
Should Voluntary Settlement Fail, the
Treaty Of London Would Become
the Only Valid Alternative,
Declare Premiers

London. Feb. oS.-The reply made
by Pre,niers Lloyd George and Mil
lerand to President Wilson's latest
communication on the Adriatic ques-
ton repeats the assurance that they
never had the intention of making
a definite settlement without Obtain-
ing the views Of the United States
government
The reply. which is dated February
&c. states that the absence of an Amer
lean representative had proved in prar-
tice an almost insurmountable obstacle
to the success Of the negotiations.
| The premiers observed as Il fact of
the greatest Importance that President
Wilson expresses Il Willingness to ac-
cept any settlement mutually agree
able to Italy and Jugo-Slavia regarding
their common frontier in the Fium"
region. provided such agreement is not
made on the basis of compensation
elsewhere at the expense of nationals
of a third power"
Withdraw Former Proposals.
This. the premier> agree. would be
an ideal way Of settling the question
and they express willingness to d"
their utmost to reach Il settlement by
this road. In order to facilitate this
process they are ready to withdraw
their proposals of December Q AMI
January 20. because they believe if the
parties principally concerned beiiev"
the allied and associated powers are
committed to supporting them in any
particular solution it will be more diff
ficult to secure Il voluntary agreement.
The premiers. therefore. cordially in
vite the president to join them in :,
formal proposal to the Italian ant
Jugo-Slav governments to negotiate an
agreement on the basis Of withdrawal
of all previous proposals.
The premiers express appreciation "t
an agreement with President Wilson's
views with regard to the future Of the
Albanian people and say they are will
Ing to urge on the governments inter-
ested that they should bring their de-
sires into line with the American view
point.
| With regard to the treaty Of London
the premier> state that its ''serret
character" was due TO military exiscn-
cieS preventing its publication during
the war.
| The premierS declare they cannot
| disguise that should no voluntary set
| tlement of the Adriatic problem be al
| tanned. the treaty OF London would be-
| come the only valid alternative as far
| they are concerned.
Washington. Feb. oS--The invitation
of the British and French premier> /"
President Wilson to join them in for
mai proposals to the Italian and Jug"-
Slav governments to negotiate new
Adria,ic settlement on the basis of the
withdrawal of all previous agreements,
caused no surprise in official WASH
fngtOn.
The note. which was received yest.r-
day ut the state department. is now
before the president. and his reply is
expected to be made within few days.
Meantime officials are refraining from
any discussion Of 1t or of the pr.>i-
dents probable course.
1t was pointed out. however. that
while adhering to the agreement ut
December .. the president in his last
reply to the premiers had said that
he 'would, of course. make no Ohje,.-
ton to settlement mutually agree
able to Italy and Jugo-Slavia. provided
| that such an agreement is not made al
the expense of the nationals of u third
power"
If the premier>' proposal is accept
| ed by the president. Italy and Jngn-
Slavia will have their first opportunity
to undertake settlement between
themselves. Officials would not voice
their opinion as to the probabilities Of
success of such direct negotiations.
There Is such Il wide divergence be-
tween the territorial aspirations of til.
two countries however. that it was re-
garled as almost certain that such ne
| gotiations. to be successful, would con-
| sumo many months.
In the view Of some officials here.
the time required to reach AN agree
| ment would be immaterial as compared
| with the lasting benefits to be derived
from satisfactory settlement. In fact
1t is known that some high officials
are of the opinion that delay might
be advisable as they believe the natural
operation of economic laws will serve
to eliminate the troublesome problem
| resulting from D'Annunzio's seizure