Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-16

a constituent assembly. 1t is probable
this situation will still further delay
settlement Of the Adriatic problem.
Commenting upon President Wilson $
note to the supreme allied council rel
ative TO the compromise agreement on
the Adriatic question the Journal says
II was IA large paving stone in the
conference pond"
This aptly sums up the trend of
French opinion. There is no attempt
to disguise the fact that the incident
creates serious situation. england
aid France, according to the news
poners here. are placed between the
devil and the deep sea" Although Mr..
Wilson's attitude is viewed as ex
cessive in the light of the ''discredit
thrown upon his policy by the resistance
OF the Senate. yet the fact remains Mr..
Wilson is absolute master until the
spring of 1921. and that the Allies are
obliged TO take him into account says
the Journal.
Wilson'S Action Unexpected
President Wilson 8 abrupt interven-
ton" the newspaper continues, was
les, to be expected. since the President
himself has been exhorting the nations
nf Europe TO put IN end at the earliest
E,Cssible moment to political stagna
ton. which has been the principal
cause of economic stagnstlon.'
President Wilson" remarks the
Petit PariSien, does not seem to have
taken any account of what has been
done during the last two months, as il
that period were negligible. He harks
back bruSquely by publishing a docu-
ment, the object of which is to call
everything into question at a moment
wien the goal appeared TO be in sight.
In the meantime Captain Gabrielle
d'Annunzio continues his aggressive
action at Fiume. 4 dispatch from that
city SAYS that two war vessels at
tachcd to the forces of D. 'Annursio have
captured an Italian transport having
on board 1000 regular troops in the
Gulf of Luzcrnero. southwest of Fiume.
4 Rome dispatch says that the
Messaggero comments uutavorably upon
the sudden and new intervention by
President Wilson. The newspaper
observes he might have expressed his
point of view before the italian -Jugo-
Slav question reached its present status
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16.- BY A. T. -
President Wilson. it was learned today
at the Whit. House. did not say in his
note to the Entente prPmiers regarding
the Fiume question that the United
States would no longer be able to con
cern itself in European affairs II
Tiume settlement were made without
consulting America.
Officials said the Interpretation of
the Presidents note by the Paris Temps
was too sweeping They said the
United States would not withdraw
from participation in the peace treaty
and the League of Nations. if the treaty
were ratified by the Senate, but that
it would withdraw from any participa
ton in the Fiume settlement, including
the policing OF the AdriatiC.
The Presidents position regarding
Fiume and the whole Adriatic situation
was said to be unchanged. This posi-
ton. however. never has been officially
outlined and officials declined today tC
define ii.
No reply to the Presidents note has
been received. it was said at the State
Department. Dispatches from abroad
said the reuly had been drawn up and
that in it the nremierS adhered to theil
ultimatum to Jugo- S!avia that it must
accept the compromise on the Fiume
question or suffer the carrying out OF
the terms of the original treaty OF Lon
don.
The suggestion that President Will
son has indicated in his latest note that
the United States would not be disposed
to proceed with its European food re-
lief measures If the allies remained
obdurate was made in some Official
quarters today. Desire of Great Brit
ain. Italy and other nations for Ameri
can funds to relieve famine in Austria
and other countries, it was suggested
might influence the allies replies to
the President.
The principal concessions indicated
by the President as possibly acceptable.
il was said in diplomatic quarters, has
been the creation of a buffer state, and
the Entente premiers SO far have op-
posed 1t.
Conferences at Washington
Beyond the general statement that
the United States adhered to the orig
inal proposition of the supreme council
in Paris allottiDg Fiume and the coast