The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-17
United States Won't Withdraw
From Adriatic Controversy.
Note to Premiers in No Sense
an Ultimatum.
WHITE HOUSE IN STATEMENT
President Knew of Intention of
Allies Last Fall.
Official Explanation of Present
Difficulty Is Issued.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE United
States will continue to support the
rights of the Jugo- Slavs in the dispute
over Fiume, it was announced today at
the White House. This government
will not withdraw from the Adriatic
controversy, 1t was stated. Threatened
withdrawal of American naval forces
from the Adriatic would not be taken
to mean that the United States will
not interest itself further in the situa-
ton there.
President Wilson's communication
to the supreme council with regard to
the proposed Fiume settlement to
which he objects, was only ten lines
in length and was in no sense an ulti-
matum. White House officials said.
1t was reiteration of Wilson'S
original position on Fiume. as the
United Press announced yesterday.
To Issue Announcement.
These statements followed a con-
ference between President Wilson and
Secretary Tumulty. Tumu1ty also has
conferred with Acting Secretary of
State Polk and 1t is possible that a
clarifying announcement fully explain
ing the stand of the United States will
be issued by the state department
1t was disclosed that after the presi-
dent had gone on his western trip last
September he received numerous mes
sages from the state department ap-
prising him that the supreme coun-
Gil was making changes in the Adriatic
settlement agreement as drawn when
he was in Paris and that he at that
time adopted the uncompromising at
| titude which is shown in the latest
memorandum.
Attitude Explained.
A high official of the state depart
n1Rnt today nNn1ainad he dif-
ference between the allies and the
United States on the Adriatic ques-
ton as follows: "On December 8, a
note signed by Great Britain, France
and the United States was submitted
to Italy for the settlement of the
never accepted by Italy. Then the
prime ministers met again in January
and submitted another plan to Pre-
mier Nitti of Italy, which was a modi-
fication of the previous proposed con-
CURED in by the United States.
This modification was in favor OF
| Italy and Italy accepted it as the 'ir-
reducible minimum This plan S-%S
sent to the Jugo-Slavs on January 20,
with the ultimatum that failure to
accept it would result in the enforce
ment of the pact of London. Follow
| ing its dispatch to the Jugo-Slavs. the
plan was communicated to the United
/ States; ii did not secure our approval
and President Wilson's note resulted.
The United States was not a party to
the January plan, and If the allies
want US to accept any proposition for
the settlement of the Adriatic, they
must give us say in its formation" "
} The principal objection of President
Wilson to the allied plan of January
is understood to be provisions placing
: the city of F1ume under the SOW
, ereignty of Italy and giving italy a
strip of land connecting Fiume with
| Italian Istria.
/ Allied Answer Sent Today.
London, Feb. 1.-THE allied answer
i to President Wilson's Adriatic note
will be dispatched to Washington this
afternoon. it was learned authorita-
lively today.
! The reply was discussed and ap-
proved at this mornings session of the
! council Of premiers, it was learned in
! Italian circles. According to the in
! formation it takes up and attempts
I to refute the Wilson arguments under
the following heads:
I THE so-called Wilson line"
/ 2-The contiguity of territory.
/ 3-Albania.
| The reply is couched in argumenta-
| tive but diplomatic phraseology, 1t
was said, and invites further negotia-
! tiOnS