The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-18
MAY co TO LEAGUE
French and British Premiers
Are in Quandary Now.
Adriatic Question May Be Test
of Nations Pact.
ITALIAN CHIEF is INSISTENT
Must Have Definite Decision
Before He Returns Home.
Great Britain More Than AnX-
Joys to PIacate Wilson.

London, Feb. 1s.-The allied reply
to President Wilson's note on the
Adriatic situation was handed to Am
bassador Davis last night, the Morn
ing Post said today.
1t was understood the completed
text was modified considerably from
the first draft prepared. The London
correspondent of the Matin, in Paris,
said he learned the first draft wa.
completed Saturday, but was held up
at the last moment for reconsideration
after which II was decided to word the
document in a more concfliating tone.
The eleventh hour delay" in the
note. the correspondent said. was due
to Intervention by Lord Grey and Lo-d
Cecil. who considered the question
very grave"
The situation today was believed to
contain grave possibilities. 1t was
!earned from authoritative sources that
PREMIER Nitti has told Premiers Lloyd
George and Millerand thSt he cannot
return to Rome this time without some
definite decision as to the disposition
of the disputed Adriatic terrific rv
Nitti, according to this information.
said he was tired of running to and
fro between London and Paris and
that Showdown" was necessary. if
government.
DbPhOAiidte @1IC HI
The position of France and Great
Britain was described as that of the
man between the upper and the neither
millstone. 1t was inevitable, officials
pointed out, that they must offend
either Italy, the United States or
Jugo-Slayia. The two leading Euro
pean powers officials said, were con-
fronted with the delicate problem of
choosing the lesser of three evils.
To correspondents here the rapidity
which has marked changes in the sit
uation was bewildering Those who
have followed the situation closely, in
terviewing the various allied leaders
almost daily during the various stages
OF the controversy have seen all their
predictions sooner or later overturned
Some British leaders today were
convinced that the only solution is
to submit the entire matter to the
League of Nations There was a gen
eral impression it would furnish a fine
test case for the sincerity with which
the nations have accepted the league
inasmuch as four of the signatory
countries are involved
England Would Please Wilson.
In other quarters there was a grow
ing conviction that Great Britain will
go to almost any length to placate
President Wilson and prevent a breach
with the United States. working on
the principle it would be better to in
our enmity of both Jugo- Slavia and
Italy than lose the future cooperation
of America
Nearly all the press emphasized this
point, urging utmost caution in the
allied reply. The Globe summed up
conservative opinion by asserting that
in their anxiety to satisfy the aspira-
tons of Italy and Jugo-Slavia, Great
Britain and France for a time seemed
to have forgotten Americas interest in
Fiume. President Wilson obviously is
"touchy." the newspaper said, adding
the allies would find it wise to
reckon with that fact"
"Ffume really is nothing to u.s." the
newspaper continued. whereas good
relations with the United States are
everything. They are the cornerstone
of our foreign policy. The future of
humanity largely depends upon their
maintenance and we are not going to
quarrel with America over a two
penny strip of Dalmatia."