New-York tribune., 1920-02-22
Taking Great Care With
Document, Which Warns
That He Will Insist on
Rights of Small Nations
Answer May Go
Forward MOndav
Belief in Washington That
President Takes Firm
Stand for Outlet to Sea
From The Trtbunc's Washington Bureau

IRON The Trtbhmc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Presiden,
Wilson's reply to the Allies on the
Adriatic settlement, which to-day was
still in the process Of formulation b,
State Department experts, is now ex.
pected to be moro than a mere response
to the explanation made by the Pre-
miers on their refusal to consult this
government on the modification Of the
original agreement of December 9.
The reply, which Is expected to be
approved by the President for trans.
initial to Ambassador Davis at London
by Monday. will, it is believed, be in
the nature Of an appeal to the people
of Europe, and especially Italy. re-
sembling in form the famous state
.nent to the Italian people made by Mr.
Wilson in April, 1919.
This development to-day may explain
the desire which has been manifested
in government circles to obtain Allied
consent for the publication of all docu-
ments which have been exchanged since
December 9 on the Adriatic situation.
Both an Appeal and Warning
The President has yet to approve
personally the completed form Of the
note. Special care is being taken by
the State Department completely ia
convey the Presidents position, which
may be described as a joint warning
and appeal to the nations of the world
that the Presid(t will not recede one
him for the rights Of small nations. 1t
will reaffirm the intention of Mr.. Will
son to see that independent states are
given outlets to the sea as an individ-
ual right and not through the suffer
ance of a larger and possibly hostile
power, and finally it will be notice to
the Allies that it is the decided desire
of Mr.. Wilson to play a large part
in European settlements.
The President, it is understood, real
ICES that he cannot make his position
clear if his note is not placed before
the people, and it is for this reason
that the White House is urging the
publication of the Presidents answer.
That the Adriatic settlement to-day
is largely a football for the Italian
politicians in the Chamber of Deputies
is the conclusion reached by many gov
ernment officials in Washington. 1t is
felt that the Italians at large are will
ing to accept what they can get in or
der to dispose Of the problem and re-
turn to normal basis. This feeling
is said to be especially true among the
financial interests and the laboring
classes.
Italy Paving Way to Back Down
The repeated cries that the United
States would starvc Italy into yielding
are a part Of the propaganda brought
about by this state Of affairs and
meant to pave the way for a back
down. Officials of this and other gov
ernments convinced the Italians at the
time Of the Paris conference that there
was no concerted movement or in
dividual act to shut off credit from
Italy. The position Of both Allied and
American officials and inanciers has
been, however, that it would be bust
ness Of the most amateurish sort to
advance money to Italy while she faced
the prospect of another war.
Italian leaders have become con.
vinced Of the sincerity of this position,
but in the face Of the chaotic political
situation are unable to force q show
down. This, Administration officials
believe, could be accomplished by q
pronouncement from the President.
Italy, which is more ready for re-
sumption of normal production than
any Of the other European countries,
would welcome such an opportunity,
they say, as soon as the people can be
made to realize how close to their goal
they are.
At the present time business in Italy