New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Hint of U. S. Withdrawal
From Negotiations ON the
Status of Turkey a New
Feature of the Situation
Allied Action Resented
Protracted Diplomatic Cor
respondence Is Predicted
Before Issue Is Settled

From The Trbune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-Presj-
dent Wilson had before him to-day
the reply Of the Allied Premiers TO
his sharp note Of warning and
threatened withdrawal of the
United States from European
affairs unless the Adriatic situation
was settled on the basis of the joint
agreement among the powers signed
on December 9, 1919.
Both the White HOUSE and The
State Department declined to make
public the answer of the European
Premiers until the consent of the
Allied governments is obtained. 1t
was intimated that this has been
sought in cablegram acknowledge
ing receipt of the communication.
The strong impression here is
that there will be a long series of
notes exchanged between the Presi-
dent and Britain, France and Italy
before any solution is reached.
Wilson Firm in Protest
Everywhere to-day there was evil
dence that the position OF the Amcri-
can government against depriving the
Jugo-Slavs of what is described az
their right in the Adriatic would be
maintained by the President. Although
it was officially limited that the London
report that the answer of the Supreme
Council was "conciliatory" is correct,
there likewise was the feeling that
nothing short of a clear statement
that the American position will be
agreeable to the powers will be accept
able to this government.
In some quarters it was believed that
the answer of the Supreme Council may
suggest compromise, this government
being urged to accept slight modifca-
tions of the December 8 agreement in
order that the troublesome situation
surrounding the future of Fiume may
be smoothed out. There was evidence
also that the note must satisfactorily
explain the failure of the Allied Pre-
miers to take the United States into
consultation before the modified agree
ment had been dispatched to Belgrade
in the form of ah ultimatum to the
Jugo-Slavs that they must accept it OF
fall back on the Pact of London. This
agreement gives the City of Fiume to
Croatia.
Premiers' Actions Resented
Resentment is held here against the
deliberate attempt of the Allied pre-
miers to satisfy Italy's claims in the
Adriatic payment sof so-called WAY
obligation. and at the same time de-
which all governments. including the
United States, had agreed was to be
theirs.
The extent to which this resentment
prevails may be indicated by the fact
that this government has not definitely
decided whether an American plenipo-
tentiary shall be present at the forth
coming conference to discuss the Turk
ish peace treaty. Heretofore there was
general understanding that the
United States government would be
represented at this conference by a
personal representative Of the Presi-
thority to commit this government on
all questions.
To-day, however, it was officially ad
mitted that no decision has been
reached by the President on the ques-
tion Of having the United States take
part in this conference. The question,
it was said, was still under "considera-
tion."
United States Participation Sought
1t is known that the American gov
ernment has been urged to send COM
missioner with plenary powers to this
conference, which is soon to sit in
Paris. The point has been made to this
government that the interests of the
United States in the Turkish settlement
are not dissmilar to the interests held
by this government in the conference
at Algeciras when the Moroccan dispute
was pending. The United States has
extraterritorial interests in Constanti-
nople, it was suggested. and the pres
ence of an American peace commits
sioner is sought to avoid any misunder-
standing such as developed in the
Fiume situation.
On the settlement of the Fiumc ques-
tion, however, it is frankly admitted,
depends the future course this govern
ment will take in European politics.
The Presidents note of February 10,
as has been officially admitted, con-
tanned the direct Narning that unless
the view of the United States is needed
in the Adriatic question this govern
ment will consider cutting away COM
pletely from European nations and re-
fusing to be involved in the settlement
of territorial disputes arising from the
war or that may develop in the future
Should it develop, however, that the
answer of the Supreme Council dis
plays an attitude of misunderstanding
of the defniteness Of the American
viewpoint the President may be COM
PEELED to inform more completely the
Allied powers on the views held by
this government in the Adriatic dis
pute.
The President already has agreed to
notifications in his original plan for
the settlement of the Fiume dispute.
and these changes have been in Italy's
favor, but he is said steadfastly to be
opposed to any change in the boundar-
les outlined in the joint agreement of
the powers made on December 8.