Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-17
BRITAINS UPSET

bhI i AINS IfSEI
London, Feb. 1s-tBy the Assoc
ciated Press - President Wilson
note to the peace conference on the
Adriaric question has furnished Lon
don political and newspaper circles
with a surprise and interest surpass-
ing that evoked by the WIson-Lans-
ing correspondence. The Lansing m
cident was regarded as an American
family affair toward which foreign
ers should be merely disiuterestad
spectators. The Presidents reap
pearance as a determined party II
the peace negotiations was con-
srrued as almost as threatening as
his order for the George Washington
to be prepared 10 take him home
from France.
The first versions Of the event gaze
II the aspect of an ulrimatum- which
meant that the council Of the allies
must stand by the terms which
President Wilson accspted in De-
! oember or America would shake the
dust Of European affairs from Ter
feet altogether and also that tie
council had framed 4 stffay wortied
reply adhering TO its January offer TO
the JugD-SIavs.
Later Information appeared u
soften the stiff necked positions
credited 70 bora parties this con-
sisted Of messages from Washington
that TOO sweeping a construction had
been given 20 the Presidents words
fortified by news from Downing
street that the council had not fn-
ished composing its answer Ne-ar
the less Premier Miilerands Cheerful
observation to the reporters on Fri
/ There is not cloud ahead
is taking as purely diplomatic op1,n-
ism.
The afternoon papers DISPLAYED
stirring headlines. IN which "boup-,
shells" was the favorire word II
not a bonbshen. II was an entiref-
unexpected rufning of the waters
about the parliament house
Inc general spirit of the conference
shown IN the results Of its first weeks
London session seems TO ne concil,a-
tory and 70 tend toward COMPROMISES.
The same spirit may animate its CORE.
spondence with Washington. This ten
dency Is displayed IN the mildness Of
the second note to Holland Regarding
me former erIIpernr's status: in the IN
expected concession ID Germany of per
hitting her 10 try her so-caIled war
criminals. and the favor given To tbs
proposal to keep the sultan on his
throne n C0Dstantinopie
some writer's connect the new era o.
mildness with the disappearance Of
Frances grand old man. Clemenceau.
from the stage
The shifting Of the conference from
Paris tn London sees 4 rival OF the
former MISUNDERSTANDING between the
British and French over newspape-
Questions. While the meetings were IN
Paris there were constant charges thas
the French papers knew more OF the
conference secrets than the other Al
lies and that the Paris press made a
strenuous campaign for French inter-
ests supported by superior knowied-e
of what was going or
me London meetings began with the
customary agreement Of the coufe-ees
that secrecy ne observed and that news
papers be given a daily official report
only. The French correspondents in
London have had the first news or all
happenings which British correspur-
dents have had await. The other d.
, he'd campaigns naturally look toward
the French delegation as the source OF
the leaks to French papers
Lord Robert Cecil asked Questions y,
the House of Commons as to the truth
OF the various reports and Andrew Bo-
mar Law, the government spokesman
read a brief lecture on the necessity OF
secrecy. He replied to other 6uestfun-
ers that peace negotiations could not
he carried on by Parliament.