The Washington herald., 1920-02-27
Text Of Adriatic
Note by Wilson
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
within the scope Of the principle of
DIFFERENTIATION. Failing in this
both parties should be willing to ac-
cept a decision of the governments
of Great Britain, France. and the
United States.
Hints at Leagues Lack of Power.
THE British and French govern
ments appear to find In the Presi-
dents suggestion that the latest
proposals would pave the way for
the annexation OF the city of Fiume
an implication that the guarantee
Of the league of nations is worth
less, and that the Italian govern
treaty 1t has entered. The Presi-
dent cannot but regard this impli-
cation as without basis and as con-
trary to his thought. In his view
the proposal to connect Fiume with
Italy by narrow strip of coast ter
ritory is quite impracticable. AS he
has already said, It involves extraor-
dinary complexities in customs con-
troll, coast guard services and other
/ related matters, and he Is unable to
detach himself from the previous
views of the British and French
governments, as expressed Jointly
with the American government in
the memorandum of December 8,
that the plan appears to run counter
to every consideration of geography.
economics and territorial convent
ence. He further believes that to
have italian territory join Fiume
would be to invite strife out of
which annexation might issue.
Therefore in undertaking to
this. he is acting on the principle
that each part of the final settle
ment should be based Upon the es-
sential justice OF that particular
case. This was one of the princi-
pies adopted by the allied and as
sociated powers as basis for
treaty making. To IL have been
added the provisions of the league
of nations. but II has never been
the policy of either this govern
ment or its associates to invoke the
league of nations as a guarantee
that a bad settlement shall not be-
come worse.
Actions Destroy Faith.
THE sum of such actions would
of necessity destroy faith in the
league. and eventually the league
itself.
THE President notes with salts
faction that the governments of
Great Britain and France will not
lose sight OF the future interests
and well-being OF the Albanian
peoples. The American governmen mt
quite understands that the three
fold division of Albania in the
British French agreement might be
most acceptable to the Jugo-Slav
government, but 1t is just as Wig
orously opposed to injuring the AL
banian people for the benefit of
Jugo-Slavia as it is opposed to in
juring the Jugo-Slav people for the
benefit of Italy.
TT believes that the differences
between the Christian and Moham-
medan populations will be in
creased by putting the two sections
under the control of nations of un-
like language, government, and
| economic strength. Moreover, one
part would be administered by the
Italian Government which Is repre-
sented on the Council of the
League. the other part by the Jugo-
Slav Government. which has nc
such representation. Therefore, to
alter or withdraw the mandate a,
some future time would be we'll
nigh impossible.
Regarding the Treaty of Lon
don. the French and British Prime
Ministers will appreciate that the
American Government must hesi.
tate to speak with assurance since
II Is a matter in which the French
and British governments can alone
Judge their obligations and deter
mine their policies. But the Presi-
dent feels that 1t is not improper tc
recall a few of the arguments which
have already been advanced
against this treaty. namely. the
dissolution of Austria Hungary
the secret character of the treaty
and it's opposition to the principles
unanimously accepted as the basis
for making peace. In addition he
desires to submit certain further
considerations. In the northern
Italian frontiers agreements have