The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-19
ADRIATIC NOTE
IS COMPLETED
BY PRESIDENT
Executives Reply to Pre-
miers Understood to Be
Reiteration of Former Posi-
tion-Not Public Yet.
SITUATION is DELICATE
(By Associated p~ess1

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-President
wilson today wrote his reply to the
allied supreme council note on the
Adrlatlc question, and sent it to Act
Ing Secretary Polk, who is putting il
IN form for transmittal to the council.
1t is expected to be on the cables be-
fore night
There was no indication as to the
notes content, or it's length. The
president began drafting it early this
morning, and completed it in two
hours. The councils communication
was received only yesterday, and the
speed with which the reply was pre-
pared here was said to constitute
something of a record
The president went to his study at
$50 a. m, and summoning his stenog-
rapher. Immediately began debating
his reply. He was understood to have
answered the councils contention,
point for point, and to have adhered
to his position taken in the note of
Feb. 10.
Might Involve Treaty.
1t is now pretty we'll established
that in that communication the pres
ident informed the allied countries
that if they proceeded to a settlement
OF the Adriatic question without the
consent and participation of the Am
erican government, the United States
might have to decide whether it could
become a party to the Treaty of Yer
sailles and the Anglo American pact.
The note received from the council
yesterday was sent to the white house
Immediately after it was decoded, and
the president studied it very carefully
during the afternoon and the evening.
Had Reply in Mind.
When he was ready to begin work
today, he was understood to have his
reply well outlined in his mind, and
consequently was able to dictate it in
a short time.
The president was represented as
perfectly willing for the exchanges to
be given to the public, after he had
completed his case' which was done
with the drafting of the note today
However, no decision as to making
the communications public, will be
reached until the allied prendiers have
been heard from. They have been ap-
preached as to their wishes
Cable dispatches indicated that the
premiers' reply to the presidents first
note was cOncilatory and that the
whole question of Fiume and the Dal-
matian literal was at least reOpened
to negotiation. There was a sugges-
ton also that the allied premiers had
asked the United States to indicate the
practical steps that could be taken to
carry out the original agreement as to
the Adriatic, under which Fiume was
to be erected into a free state under
the league of nations and the principle
of self determination followed in dis
posing of the Dalmatian coast.
1t was said to be the European view
that the seizure of Fiume by D'Annun-
Zio and his Italian troops had brought
about such a delicate situation that
any attempt to restore the status quo
might bring about more war.
U. S. Called Co-BelIiaerent.
President Wilson, it was learned,
has taken the position that this coun-
try is interested in the Adriatic settle
ment as co-belligerent in the war, de-
spite the fact that the treaty of
| Versailles has not been ratified here.
On similar questions, such as those
| affecting Armenia and Turkey, this
country likewise is prepared to keep in
close touch with decisions reached by
| the premiers at their London confer
ences, at which the United States is
not represented.
! All such decisions have to be ap.
proved by the supreme council in
Paris, meetings of which probably will
be attended in future by an American
representative to keep this govern
ment in quick touch with what is going
on.
| Careful consideration is being given
the allied reply, according to officials
| indicating that rejoinder may not be
| forthcoming for some time.