The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-12
WILSON ACCEPTS
WITH RESERVATIONS
PRESIDENTS REPLY TO ALLIES,
FluME PLANS BOTH coNciL-
IAToRY AND ADAMANTINE.
Expresses Earnest Hope That Allied
Governments Will Not Decide on
Course Which American Govern
ment Will be Unable to Follow.

Washington.-Pres Wilson ac-
cepts with reservations the proposal
of the British and French premiers
that Italy and Jugo-SIavia undertake
settlement of the Adriatic question
He says if Italy and Jugo-S layia pre-
fer To abandon the sO-called buffer
state containing an overwhelming ma
jority of JugO-Slavs and desire to limit
the proposed free state to the corpus
separatum of Fiume, placing the SOW
ereignty in the league of nations with
out either Italian or Jugo-SIav control,
the United States is willing to leave
the determination of the common from
tier to Italy and Jugo-Slayia.
The president says he cannot pos
sibiy join in the premiers' suggestion
that the memorandum settlement of
December 8 be withdrawn; declares
that Albanian questions should not
be included i'll the proposed joint dis
cussions'' and reiterates that the
United States cannot approve of the
execution of the terms of the treaty
Of London.
Finally he expresses the earnest
hope that the allied governments will
not find it necessary to decide on a
course which the American govern
ment, in accordance with its reiterat-
ed statement. will be unable to follow"
The presidents note to the pre-
mfers is now being considered by the
allied supreme council at London.
Meantime direct negotiations between
Jugo-Slavia and Italy are proceeding.
MIR. Wilson begins his communica-
ton by noting with satisfaction the
'unaltered desire" of the premiers to
reach Ian equitable solution in con-
formity alike with the principles of the
peace conference and of the legiti-
mate, though conflicting, aspirations
of the italian and Jugo-Slayia peo-
pies"
Refusing to agree to withdrawal
of the sh-French-American men,
orandum of December 9 as a prelimin-
airy to the Italian-Juge-Slav discus
sions, the president says the memo
interested judgment after months of
earnest consideration and that it
constitutes more than Il mere ex-
change of views: it was statement
of principle and Il reorganization of
the chief points upon which agree
ment had been reached"
Reiterating that he would gladly
approve" a mutual agreement between
Italy and Jugo-Slavia reached without
prejudice to the interests of any third
nation, the president declares he can
not possibly approve any plan which
assigns to Jugo-SIavia in the northern
districts of Albania territorial compen-
satiOn for what she is deprived of else
where"
Regarding the character and ap-
plicability of the treaty of London"
the president speaks with LESS re-
serve on account of the frank observa-
lions Of the premiers. He says he
is unable to find in the "exigencies of
military strategy" sufficient warrant
for exercising secrecy with the United
States, which was being called upon
for unlimited assistance and for I'M
told treasure in helping to prosecute
the war.
The French and British prime min
isterS," he says, will, of course, not
expect the government of the United
States to approve the execution of the
terms of the treaty OF London, except
in so far as that government may be
convinced that those terms are in
trinsically just and are consistent with
the maintenance of peace and settled
order in southeastern Europe.