Evening star., 1920-02-26
ADR|AT|C NOTE
RECALLS THREAT
Presidents Act Seen as Rep
etition of George Washing
ton Incident.
by FRANK II. sIMoNDs.

In the case of the George Washing
L ton, as NJ. Tardieu has just explained
France demanded of her recent allies
exactly the same security against Ger
man attack, which Britain was asking
but while British demands were for the
destruction of the German fleet and
the occupation of German colonies.
which were the threats to Britain of
lGerman power, France demanded the
right to occupy the left bank of the
Rhine, the sole military barrier against
German aggression
In this clemenceau was opposed
George. But the "Tigcr" rernained
obstinately determined to obtain for
his country. what the British had OBJ
tanned for their own land, namely.
security. Thereupon Mr.. Wilson sent
for the George Washington and
threatened to take it and quit Paris.
/ Even this threat did not dislodge
Clemenceau, who could not have last
ed a day in power if the French peo-
pie had learned that he had sur
rendered in the matter of security.
Presidents Substitute
In the end the President proposed
as a substitute the Anglo French
it. AS the thing was settled at Paris
France would not permanently oc-
cupy the left bank of the Rhine and
the United States and Great Britain
l were pledged to send their troops to
the continent If France were attack
| ed BY Germany. since French defense
would be greatly weakened by the
elimination Of the Rhine barrier.
Now a similar situation is coming.
We shall be asked once more to
guarantee another European frontier
if we interfere with another nation 9
ideas of its own proper security. The
| italians will suggest as a substitute
for their settlement of the Adriatlc
question and for the compromise sug-
gested by the British and the French,
an American guarantee of Italian
populations and interests on the east
! coast of the Adriatic They will do
| it for the same reason Clemenceau
| demanded the similar guarantee
because they are dealing with
question Of national defense.
| But the United States Senate has so
far failed to make good the Presi-
dents promise to France, therefore
the Italians will follow the French
example and insist upon occupation
American guarantee becomes absolute.
We shall then be compelled to under
| take two European responsibilities
at once, or our championship of GER
tain abstract PRINCIPLES will become
tmerely ridiculous. But these tasks
! will be considerable.
! On the other hand. if we refuse to
und ertake these tasks. the situation
of the Jugoslavs will be far worse
than it might have been if we had not
President, against the compromise
proposed by the allies, by France and
Britain. 1t will be impossible now
for any Jugoslav ministry or prime
minister to accept the Anglo French
compromise. because it not only does
abstract justice. but has also been re-
pulsed with scorn by the President
of the United States
| Possibility Of Clash.
On the other hand the question can
not remain unsettled. The possibility
Of a clash between the Italians and
the Jugoslavs is patent. Such a
because of their own dispute with the
Serbs. the Bulgars with their tradi-
tional hatred for the Serbs. the Greeks
with the ir claims against the Italians,
quite as just as those of the Jugo-
slavA Moreover. as long as the ques-
tion is not settled, France. Britain
and Italy will be divided and Italian
anger at Anglo-French opposition to
Italian claims will continue to mount
Actually the Presidents ultimatum
abolished all immediate chance of the
compromise proposed on one of the
most dangerous Of the surviving
perils to world peace. In my judg-
ment the President is right in view
ing the proposed settlement as not
in accordance with absolute justice.
but is he or the United States pre-
pared to insist that absolute justice
be done. even il this involves the
sending Of new army to Europe and
war with Italy? II not, then a re-
seems a prolongation of deadly
menace to all order and rehabilita-
ton; 1t may prove the cause of a new
war
President Wilson has clearly not re-
nounced his purpose to have America
play the role of%world arbiter. which
he clearly held in Paris. He discloses
the same determination to pass upon
each question as it arises from the
point of view Of abstract justice, as
countrymen. for, l repeat. most IN
formed Americans will agree with Mr..
Wilson over the merits Of the Jugo-
slav contention in the Adriatic. But
In refusing to let Europe reach
cofnpromisr he is compelled by the
course Of the United States Senate to
refrain from any Affirmative action.
In the end Europe will reluctantly
because 1t still fears to offend the
American nation. which remains the
single source of credit and loans. turn
to the settling of its own affairs IN
its own way, because America, while
rejecting the European method, does
not propose any other possible escape
nom the prolongation of war breed
ing disputes When Europe at last
perceives the fact, the French claim
to occupy the left bank Of the Rhine
and the italian demand for security
IN the Adriatic win be supported by
the British, who have already realized
similar and no more justif1able aspira.
lions in the matter of the German
deet and the German colonies
II Jugoslavs Appeal to o. 8.
But the President viii stfn be able
for . certain length Of time to pre-
vent European settlement. because his
championship Of the claims Of the
Jugoslavs, for example, will lead these
people to reject what are, on the whole
unfair terms in tho hope Of American
support
ate and in tho country L. what It 1!
tho crisis arrives and the Jugoslav'
arc confronted with italian arret
forces, authorised by tho Anglo
French-1talian concsrt to carry ou
tho terms Of q compromise. tho JuGo-
siavs will call upon the President and
the American people for military ant
naval assistance In vain.
events are now moving. Tho Presi
dent has abolished the present hope
Of compromise. He has given new
moral color to Jugoslav aspirations
he has again given tho unmistakablt
censurs OF the President of tn
United States 10 italian claims, Thil
means that italian and Jugoslav ar
main Wlcing each other, II means tina.
clash may como 1T any moment and
that, n n comes, the 3usosiavu VII
| instantly turn to tho President and q